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EPA Issues Toxic Algae Warning for Warren Buffett’s Klamath River Reservoirs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency yesterday issued an alert regarding bodily contact with toxic blue-green algae on Klamath River reservoirs. This is the third consecutive year that Copco and Iron Gate reservoirs have been found to have extremely high levels of the toxic algae since monitoring by the Karuk Tribe began in 2005.
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 required the operator of the dams, PacifiCorp, be required 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
California Department of Public Health:
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/index.htm
State Water Resources Control Board:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html
National Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm
Siskiyou County Public Health Department:
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
North American Lake Management Society:
http://www.nalms.org/Resources/BlueGreenInitiative/Overview.htm
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 required the operator of the dams, PacifiCorp, be required 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
California Department of Public Health:
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/index.htm
State Water Resources Control Board:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/index.html
National Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm
Siskiyou County Public Health Department:
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
North American Lake Management Society:
http://www.nalms.org/Resources/BlueGreenInitiative/Overview.htm
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