Headwaters is Stream Data Centers’ site development affiliate, employing a team of hyperscale experts dedicated to identifying and advancing data center sites by conducting robust due diligence and development work, bringing shovel-ready sites to fruition for the data center industry. Headwaters is not a data center end user, but rather a strategic partner for landowners and end users to develop high quality projects through research, permitting, and transparent collaboration with local officials and the community.

The Project Saltworks site was selected after a rigorous site selection process. After months of due diligence, we have confirmed that the site near Graham is an ideal location for data center end users. The site meets our strict criteria for responsible development, including access to power infrastructure, land suitability, and minimal environmental impact.

No. There will be no rate impact to residents. All infrastructure upgrades are paid for by the developer. Senate Bill 6 passed by the Texas Legislature on June 20, 2025, established a regulatory framework that ensures costs are not passed on to local rate payers and that homes and businesses are prioritized for power delivery during any shortage.

No. Water use will be minimal—significantly less than that of typical residential or office developments. The cooling system operates in a closed-loop design (similar to a car radiator) that doesn’t require refilling. Each building’s one-time system fill is about 165,000 gallons — one-third of a swimming pool. By comparison, 10 acres of irrigated farmland uses more water each year than the entire campus will use over its lifetime. Water systems will be independently monitored. 

Draining or refilling the system would require shutting down the facility, so it is not part of normal operations. A third-party consultant will regularly monitor the quality of the cooling solution, and the system experiences virtually no evaporation loss. The campus’ projected usage represents less than 2% of the water the city is already contracted to supply to Fort Belknap. This level of usage will not drain the lake or strain local water resources

No. While more is planned, an initial $1 billion investment to Young County’s tax base nearly doubles local revenue for schools, hospitals, and essential services. This growth reduces pressure for future tax increases. A Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) structure will provide predictable annual income to the county, ensuring stable long-term funding. All incentive requests will be shared transparently with city and county officials.

Yes. Each building supports 20–30 permanent, high-paying positions—ranging from security and HVAC to server technicians and engineers—alongside hundreds of construction and vendor roles. The goal is for as many of these positions as possible to go to local residents. Pay averages over $75,000 for full-time technical staff. Local vendors and contractors will be prioritized whenever possible.

Construction will take place primarily during business hours, with occasional early-morning concrete pours. Dust will be managed using water trucks, and traffic studies are underway to guide safe routing and ensure any road wear is repaired. Lighting during construction and operation will be Dark Sky compliant — fully shielded and directed downward to limit spill and glare. No RVs or overnight worker housing will be allowed onsite.

No. Only 50–60 percent of the 867-acre site will be developed. Natural slopes, fencing, and tree-lined buffers will screen buildings from view. Extensive setbacks minimize visibility from nearby roads, Lake Graham, and Graham Country Club. Architecture and landscaping will reflect the surrounding rural character.

 No. Initial site investigation began in October 2024, and the project remains in the early due-diligence stage. Headwaters is committed to transparency and engagement throughout the following stages of project development. A site concept plan will be shared publicly in January 2026, and community tours of comparable data centers are being planned.

Project Saltworks addresses an immediate infrastructure need backed entirely by private funding from some of the world’s largest companies with secured financing and a well-defined, phased construction plan. Data Centers require more taxable investment per square foot than other types of projects and bring unmatched economic impact to communities.

No. Due to the level of investment in data center projects, they are not easy to relocate once established. They are anticipated to operate for 20+ years. Access to electric infrastructure and other key site criteria establish a long-lasting value in operating the data center.

The site was chosen for its size and existing infrastructure, allowing substantial buffers and setbacks. Natural topography, vegetation, existing transmission line corridors, and planned buffers will minimize line of site visibility of the development from adjacent properties, Spivey Hill, Graham County Club, and lakefront areas. Minimum setbacks from homes will be 500ft with most well over 1,000+ ft away.

No. Each building employs 20–30 people, and we expect the majority of construction labor will primarily commute from Dallas–Fort Worth and nearby communities. Project Saltworks aims to strengthen Graham’s economy and infrastructure services while preserving its small-town character.

The project is committed to a maximum noise limit of 55 dB at the property boundary or 45 dB from existing residences, whichever is more restrictive. For reference, 45 dB is comparable to a quiet library, light breeze, or the soft hum of a refrigerator.

There is no reason to fear any adverse health impacts from noise. Adverse health impacts are typically found when the noise amplitude is unusually high at low frequencies or contains prominent low-frequency pure tones. The measured equipment sound level data associated with this project does not exhibit unusually high amplitude at low frequencies, nor does it contain low-frequency pure tones. Additionally, temporary sources such as generators will be located in acoustical enclosures, and equipment will include mitigation measures such as silencers or mufflers

Modern data centers are essentially “computers in a building,” not chemical plants, and are engineered with multiple layers of protection. Each facility is planned to include comprehensive fire suppression systems, staffed by trained operators, and equipped with a VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) system—sensitive enough to detect even trace levels of smoke.

Significant fires in data centers are extremely rare due to strict operational standards and the industry’s substantial, ongoing investment in reliability. Operations staff will regularly coordinate with local fire departments for preparation and training on the facility to ensure any incident response will be coordinated and safe for all.

Project Saltworks will fully comply with all applicable federal and state environmental and natural resource regulations. Comprehensive natural resource surveys have already been completed to ensure compliance and to inform site design and construction planning. 

During construction, Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be implemented to protect soil, water, and surrounding habitats. In addition, the site plan incorporates substantial buffers of preserved natural vegetation, reduces visual impact, and supports local wildlife.

Early development activities are fully underway, and construction is expected to begin in early 2027, depending on final hyperscale customer coordination and power delivery timelines.

At both the federal and state levels, elected leaders have explicitly endorsed continued data center development. Support has been expressed by the U.S. President Donald Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and key Texas elected officials including Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. John Cornyn, Rep. Jake Ellzey, Sen. Phil King, and Sen. Kelly Hancock. Their statements consistently highlight the economic, technological, and national security importance of expanding data center infrastructure.

Overall, government policy, industry demand, and strong state level support make Texas one of the most attractive regions in the country for data center growth