[env-trinity] FW: EPA Issues Toxic Algae Warning for Warren Buffett's Klamath River Reservoirs

[Josh Allen]

EPA Issues Toxic Algae Warning for Warren Buffett's Klamath River
Reservoirs  

 

By Dan Bacher  

 

(San Francisco) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on July 5
issued a warning about bodily contact with the toxic blue-green algae in
Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs on the Klamath River in Siskiyou County,
California  

 

"Due to its potential health risks, federal, state, local, and tribal
agencies are urging swimmers, boaters and recreational users to avoid
contact with the blue-green algae now blooming in Iron Gate and Copco
Reservoirs," said Lisa Fasano, spokesperson for the EPA's San Francisco
office.  

 

California agencies including the North Coast Regional Water Quality
Control Board, State Water Resources Control Board, the Office of
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Department of Public Health
and the Yurok and Karuk Tribes are urging residents and recreational
users of the Klamath river to use caution or avoid getting in the water
near these blooms, especially during the upcoming summer months.  

 

"As blue-green algae can pose health risks, especially to children and
pets, we urge people to be careful where they swim when visiting the
reservoirs," said Alexis Strauss, the EPAs Water Division Director for
the Pacific Southwest region. "Try to avoid swallowing or inhaling drops
of water in an algal bloom area as well as skin contact with water by
people or their pets."  

 

The blooms of "Microcystis aeruginosa" look like green, blue-green,
white or brown foam, scum or mats floating on the water, according to
Strauss.  

 

"Recreational exposure to toxic blue-green algae can cause eye
irritation, allergic skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and
cold and flu-like symptoms. Liver failure and death have occurred in
rare situations where large amounts of contaminated water were directly
ingested," Strauss stated.  

 

"This is a situation that anyone who comes into contact with water at
Copco or Iron Gate should be aware of," said Catherine Kuhlman,
Executive Officer of the North Coast Regional Water Board. "Vacationers
and the public should adjust their activities accordingly. The
precautions that we are recommending are reasonably simple and common
sense."  

 

Regina Chichizola, the Klamath Riverkeeper, said she was "very glad"
that the federal EPA and state agencies had issued warnings about bodily
contact with the toxic algae, but was disappointed that nothing was
being done about the toxic algae problem.  

 

"The toxic algae violates four of the state's water quality criteria,
but the state refuses to do anything about stopping the pollution," said
Chichizola. "We're asking that the state require the operator of the
dams, PacifiCorp, to apply for a waste discharge permit so the North
Coast Regional Board could regulate the toxic discharge."  

 

The microcystis algae is found in the Klamath all of the way down to the
river mouth, but not in anywhere near the concentrations found in
PacifiCorp's Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. The toxic algae requires
still water to bloom - reservoirs are the perfect incubator for the
algae to proliferate.  

 

"From all of the available science, it is clear that that the dams are
what is causing the toxic algae," said Chichizola. "There isn't the
problem with the algae above the dams. We believe that dam removal will
deal with this issue."  

 

This is the third consecutive year that Copco and Iron Gate reservoirs
have been found to have extremely high levels of the toxic blue-green
algae since monitoring by the Karuk Tribe began in 2005. Tribal leaders,
conservationists and recreational and commercial fishermen support dam
removal as the solution to the toxic algae problem - and to restoring
salmon and steelhead to the Klamath above the dams.  

 

The reservoirs are located on the Klamath River near the Oregon border
between Ashland, Oregon and Yreka, California. The dams are owned by
PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Billionaire Warren Buffett's Mid American
Energy Holdings Company.  

 

"Although Siskiyou County officials have the responsibility to inform
and protect the public from exposure, it's not their fault these blooms
are occurring. Warren Buffett's dams are to blame," said Leaf Hillman,
Vice Chair of the Karuk Tribe.  

 

Officials from the California Water Quality Control Board and the Office
of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment recently formed a Blue
Green Algae (BGA) Work Group. The group published a document to provide
guidance to local health officials dealing with toxic algae blooms.
Samples taken recently from Klamath reservoirs contained cell counts
approximately 100 times greater than the threshold at which the BGA Work
Group's document recommends posting alerts to the public.  

 

"The blooms occur in the summer as the shallow, nutrient rich water
trapped behind the dams heats up and thus provides an optimal
environment for the algae to bloom," explained Craig Tucker, Klamath
Campaign Coordinator for the Karuk Tribe. "For years, down river Tribes,
fishermen, and conservation groups have called for the removal of the
dams to restore runs of salmon that are in dramatic decline and
alleviate the toxic blooms."  

 

In May, the Klamath Riverkeeper and other affected community members
filed a "public nuisance" claim against PacifiCorp over the role the
dams play in creating algae blooms and creating conditions lethal to
salmon. Lawyers for the plaintiffs include nationally renowned
environmental attorneys Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of the National Water
Keeper Alliance and Joseph Cotchett. Tribal and state governments are
not plaintiffs in the suit.  

 

Hillman and leaders from the Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes joined with
conservation groups and commercial fishermen in May to take their
grievances to Buffett at "Warrenpalooza," the annual shareholders'
meeting of Buffett's investment firm Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha,
Nebraska. Unfortunately, Buffett declined to address their appeal to
remove the Klamath dams.  

 

"PacifiCorp is destroying the most vital natural resource river and
coastline communities have while poisoning us at the same time," said
Hilllman."In the end, PacifiCorp's investors and ratepayers will hold
its management accountable. Not only is removing these toxic waste
factories the moral thing to do, it's the economically sound decision as
well."  

 

An economic analysis performed by the California Energy Commission
concludes that PacifiCorp would save over $100 million by removing the
dams instead of meeting the terms of a new operational license.
Currently over two dozen Klamath Basin stakeholders are seeking to
negotiate an agreement that would remove the dams as well as address
issues of in stream flows and power needs of farmers.  

 

"Everyone in the Klamath Basin is working on solutions to these
problems," said Hilllman. "It's time for PacifiCorp to get real about
removing these dams and stop exploiting Klamath communities and their
own ratepayers."  

 

The Statewide Guidance on Harmful Algal Blooms recommends the following:


 

* Avoid wading and swimming in water containing visible blooms or water
containing algal scums or mats; If no algal scums or mats are visible,
you should still carefully watch young children and warn them not to
swallow the water.  

* Do not drink, cook or wash dishes with untreated surface water under
any circumstances.  

* Consume fish only after removing guts and liver, and rinsing fillets
in clean drinking water.  

* Take care that pets and livestock do not drink the water or swim
through heavy scums or mats, nor lick their fur after going in the
water.  

* Get medical treatment right away if you think that you, your pet, or
your livestock might have been poisoned by blue green algae toxins.  

* Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with
blue green algae.  

 

"With proper precautions to avoid water contact, people can still visit
Iron Gate and Copco Reservoirs and enjoy activities such as camping,
hiking, biking, canoeing, picnicking or other recreational activities
excluding direct contact with the algae bloom scum," according to the
federal EPA.  

 

For more information, please visit:  

World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 3rd
Edition:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3/en/index.html
<http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3/en/index.html>   

California Department of Public Health:  

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/index.htm
<http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/index.htm>   

State Water Resources Control Board:  

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html
<http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html>   

National Center for Disease Control:  

http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm
<http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm>   

Siskiyou County Public Health Department:  

http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/phs/ <http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/phs/>   

(530) 841-2100  

Yurok Tribe Real Time Water Quality and BGA Data  

http://exchange.yuroktribe.nsn.us/lrgsclient/stations/stations.html
<http://exchange.yuroktribe.nsn.us/lrgsclient/stations/stations.html>   

North American Lake Management Society:  

http://www.nalms.org/Resources/BlueGreenInitiative/Overview.htm
<http://www.nalms.org/Resources/BlueGreenInitiative/Overview.htm> 

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