Toxic Algae from Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp Dams Harms Klamath River

Yurok Tribe ● Karuk Tribe

P R E S S R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: September 27, 2007

For more information:
Craig Tucker, Spokesperson Karuk Tribe office 530-627-3446 x3027; home office 530-629-2498
Matt Mais, Public Relations Manager, Yurok Tribe office (707) 482-1350 cell (707) 954-0976

PacifiCorp’s Dams Poison Klamath River
Public Warnings to be posted along length of River

Siskiyou Co., CA – Since the discovery of the toxic blue green algae Microcystis aeruginosa in PacifiCorp’s Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs in 2001, the reservoirs have seen some of the highest recorded concentrations of this algae in the world. Microcystis aeruginosa produces the toxin microcystin which is known to cause liver failure and promote tumor growth. Microcystin exposure can lead to organ failure and death.

Last week residents downstream of the reservoirs were alarmed when the Klamath River turned a bright lime green color. Water quality tests confirm residents’ fears: the color comes from high concentrations of Microcystis aeruginosa in the river.

The reservoirs are located on the Klamath River near the Oregon border between Ashland, OR and Yreka, CA. The dams are owned by PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Buffett’s Mid American Energy Holdings Company. The river flows from south central Oregon into California and reaches the Pacific in Northwestern California. From the toxic reservoirs to the ocean the river flows through the heart of Yurok and Karuk Tribal lands – the two largest tribes in California.

“This is not some kind of natural phenomena,” said the Yurok Tribe’s Environmental Director, Kevin McKernan. “This is a direct effect of PacifiCorp’s antiquated dams.”

McKernan notes that, “data from the last three seasons show little or no Microcyctis is present upstream of the reservoirs. It’s the dams that create the habitat for this organism to thrive and then send it downstream.”

In 2005, under pressure from tribal officials and the state, Pacificorp released its own algae data revealing that they had discovered Microcystis in 2001, but failed to notify the public.

Monday, officials from the California Northcoast Regional Water Quality Control Board plans to post signs at river access points along the length of the river below Iron Gate dam warning the public of this health threat. The Yurok Tribe has already posted signs at all common river entry points.

Recently officials from the California Water Quality Control Board and the Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment formed a Blue Green Algae (BGA) Work Group. The BGA Work Group recently 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 River downstream is as much as 4 times greater.
(see http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/docs/bga_volguidance.pdf)

Children and pets are most susceptible to the toxin because of their likelihood of ingesting river water during play. Activities such as swimming and water skiing are the most dangerous in because there is the greatest chance of swallowing the algae toxin.

Fishing is considered a low-risk activity. However, it is hazardous to stand in algal-filled waters for long periods, especially in waterlogged boots or waders. If the algae enters boots or waders, sloshing around can break open live cells exposing the toxin to bare skin.

Tribal officials contend that it is safe to eat fish from the Klamath, however it is recommended that no fish organs be consumed and that all fillets are rinsed with drinking water.

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. 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.

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. Its time for PacifiCorp to get real about removing these dams and accept the responsibility for what their dams have done to our communities,” concluded Sandi Tripp, Natural Resources Director of the Karuk Tribe.


# # #

Editors’ notes:
Pictures of the sampling sites, a copy of lab results, and previous press releases are available online at http://www.karuk.us/press/press.php

Link to CA Energy Commission economic study: http://www.energy.ca.gov/klamath/

Link to California Coastal Commission sediment study that concludes that dams can be removed safely: http://www.klamathwaterquality.com/CCC_KHP_Dams_Out_9_22_06.pdf