Klamath River News October 5 - Toxic Algae Moves Downstream

Klamath River News - October 5, 2007

* TOXIC ALGAE MOVES DOWNSTREAM - KLAMATH POSTED HAZARDOUS
* FARMING AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE UPPER BASIN
* KLAMATH RIVERKEEPER GOES TO WASHINGTON DC
* TARGETING A BILLIONAIRE'S DAMS

Action Alerts:
* Tell the Press - Pacificorp's Toxic Algae IS Unique
* Follow up in Washington DC - remind lawmakers Toxic Algae doesn't go away till dams do


WARNING ISSUED OVER TOXIC ALGAE ALONG KLAMATH RIVER
http://www.redding.com/news/2007/sep/29/warning-issued-over-toxic/?printer=1/
Redding Record-Searchlight -9/29/2007
The news: Klamath River is running green with toxic algae. What’s next: State officials plan to post warning signs along close to a 200-mile stretch of river next week. Don't touch that brightly hued Klamath River water. That's the warning set to be planted next week on posters from Iron Gate Dam down almost 200 river miles to w here its water meets the Pacific Ocean. The warning about the dangers of blue-green algae comes from state officials and members of the Yurok tribe. "The blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins," said Bob Klamt, executive officer for the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. "They can result in damage to livers and internal organs."

TOXIC ALGAE MOVES FROM PACIFICORP RESERVOIRS INTO KLAMATH RIVER
Oregonian - 9/27/07
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/119094091541290.xml&storylist=orlocal

PACIFICORP SAYS TOXIC ALGAE NOT UNIQUE
CNNMoney.com
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/D8RUILOO0.htm

AGENCIES WARN AGAINST TOXIC ALGAE
http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=28997
The Eureka Reporter - 9/30/2007

LAWMAKERS BRIEFED ON KLAMATH DAMS AS KLAMATH RIVER TURNS GREEN FROM TOXINS
Representatives shocked to find out up to fifty miles of the Klamath now hazardous
Klamath Riverkeeper Press Release - 9/27/07
Last week Congressional members in D.C. were briefed about the dangerous levels of toxic algae that have now migrated out of PacifiCorp's dams on the Klamath River and polluted it for up to fifty miles. Representatives were shocked to see the photos of bright green reservoirs and to hear about the in river toxin postings.
This week the group Klamath Riverkeeper gathered support for Klamath Dam removal and educated lawmakers on the economic and health effects of PacifiCorp's toxins. During the visit sampling results from the Karuk Tribe confirmed what Klamath river uses have suspected, the bright green sheen covering the Klamath River is the same toxic algae Microcystis aeruginosa that has been in PacifiCorp’s reservoirs for years. A highly dangerous liver toxin was now turning the Klamath River bright green.

REDEFINING THE PROJECT: IS SUSTAINABILITY THE NEW ZEITGEIST IN T HE KLAMATH BASIN?
North Coast Journal - 9/27/07
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/092707/cover0927.html
The over 4,000 cattle being grazed sustainably at Sycan Marsh, located in the northeastern corner of the Klamath Basin, have no idea how much science has gone into the cud they’re chewing. But Craig Beinz does. At first glance, Beinz looks more like a rancher than an ecologist, but underneath his spotless cowboy hat and behind his bushy, graying mustache is a man who’s invested 30 years into this region. Beinz first moved to the Upper Basin to serve as the lead biologist for the Klamath Tribe, a position he held for 20 years. In 1999, he took a job with The Nature Conservancy, managing Sycan’s 30,000 acres in partnership with the ZX Ranch, one of the largest cattle ranches in the United States.

WATER TOUR BRINGS STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER - Klamath River Basin issues span cultures, states, livelihoods
http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?Sec tionID=67&SubSectionID=792&ArticleID=35707&TM=15661.05
Capital Press - 10/04/07
Farmers, fishermen, ranchers, Indian tribes, miners and loggers share the Klamath River, and their livelihoods depend on it. In late September, an alliance of Oregon coastal commercial fishermen, Klamath Basin irrigators, Yurok and Karuk tribes, along with representatives, elected officials and other guests toured the Klamath River Basin.

TARGETING A BILLIONAIRE'S DAMS: An unlikely coalition wants Warren Buffett to restore the Klamath River's salmon fishery
http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=558734
Chico News & Review - 9/27/07
On Sept. 24, 1908, the Klamath Falls (Ore.) Evening Herald ran a front-page article reporting on the observations of people who'd arrived recently from the town of Keno, about 20 miles to the southwest: "Parties coming in from Keno state that the run of salmon in the Klamath River this year is the heaviest it has ever be en. There are millions of fish below the falls near Keno, and it is said that a man with a gaff could easily land a hundred of the salmon in an hour...."
Today a person standing below the falls near Keno would never see a fish, thanks to a series of four large hydroelectric-power dams...


ACTION ALERTS:

TELL THE PRESS - TOXIC ALGAE ON KLAMATH IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NIGHTMARE
Pacificorp is attempting to neutralize the press on toxic algae in the Klamath by saying it's "not unique". Please write a letter to the editor of your paper, the Oregonian or the Sacramento Bee reminding the public that the Klamath has the highest levels of toxic algae in the country, and Warren Buffett's Pacificorp is prioritizing the corporate status quo over public health on our river. Documented samples taken from areas frequented by recreational users of the Klamath reservoirs contained cell counts up to 4,000 times greater than what the World Health Organization (WHO) cons iders a moderate health risk -- and these blooms have now spread to the mid and lower Klamath. For more info, go to klamathriverkeeper.org/dams.html

Send a letter to The Oregonian - http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf?/opinion/oregonian/howtosend.frame

Send a letter to The Sacramento Bee -
http://www.sacbee.com/static/live/opinion/letters.html


FOLLOW UP ON KLAMATH RIVERKEEPER'S VISIT TO DC - REMIND LAWMAKERS DAMS MUST COME DOWN
Klamath Riverkeeper made a big impact on our lawmakers in Washington DC. Many were shocked to see pictures and hear information about the grave impacts to public health caused by toxic algae and Pacificorp's dams. Now is a great time to remind them toxic algae won't go away until Pacificorp is held accountable as a corporate polluter. Call, write, or email to thank your representatives who support dam removal and let them know - We're sick of Pacificorp's toxic algae!

Rep. Peter DeFazio, OR, hasn't declared a position on the Klamath Dams, call him first:
(202) 225-6416 - http://www.house.gov/formdefazio/contact.html

Here's who we talked to:
Senator Barbara Boxer - (202) 224-3553 - http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm
Senator Ron Wyden - (202) 224 - 5244 - http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/
Rep. Lois Capps, CA - (202) 225-3601 - http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml
Rep. Ellen Tauscher, CA - http://www.house.gov/tauscher/IMA/get_address.htm
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, CA - (202) 225-3072 - http://lofgren.house.gov/emailform.shtml
Rep. Jim McDermott, WA - (202) 225-3106 - http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/contact.shtml
Rep. Dennis Cardoza, CA - http://www.house.gov/cardoza/contact.shtml
Rep. Dianne Fienstien, CA - http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUS.EmailMe
Rep. Mike Thompson, CA - http://mikethompson.house.gov/contact/email.shtml
Rep. Darlene Hooley, OR -http://hooley.house.go v/index.asp?Type=DYNAFORM&SEC={9BDA1E4D-2430-4E7D-B7AB-236B60C42F5A}
Rep. Earl Blumenhauer, OR- http://blumenauer.house.gov/about/Contact.shtml


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