Klamath River eNews - Algae Toxin Poses Health Risk, Salmon Season Closed

Klamath River eNews - April 12th, 2008

* REPORT: ALGAE TOXIN POSES HEALTH RISK IN KLAMATH PERCH AND MUSSELS
* U.S. HALTS COMMERCIAL SALMON SEASON IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA
* BATTLING UPSTREAM: THE TRIBES ON THE KLAMATH KNOW THAT AS THE RIVER GOES, SO GO THE SALMON
* "TRASH FISH" A BIG KEY TO SUSTAINABILITY

Action Alerts

* COMMENTS NEEDED: ASK THE EPA TO EXPAND KLAMATH TOXIC ALGAE LISTING

Announcements

* FIRE RECOVERY FIELD TRIP ALONG THE KLAMATH - Saturday, April 12th
* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH Oregon Coast Tour - April 15-18th
* KLAMATH RIVERKEEPER TO SHOW FILM AT MT. SHASTA EARTH WEEK - April 18th - 22nd

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NEWS:

REPORT: ALGAE TOXIN POSES HEALTH RISK IN KLAMATH PERCH AND MUSSELS
Oregonian - 4/11/08
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1207853652112600.xml&storylist=orlocal
An analysis shows tissue samples from a popular game fish found in two Klamath River reservoirs and mussels from the Klamath River contain algae toxins at levels high enough to pose a risk to public health. The Karuk Tribe commissioned the analysis as part of its campaign to remove dams on the Klamath River to help salmon. The analysis by Aquatic Ecosystems Sciences in Ashland recommends that warnings be posted against eating yellow perch from Copco and Iron Gate reservoirs and freshwater mussels from the river during summer when the algae blooms are going on. The perch are a popular game fish and the mussels are a traditional food for tribal members.

Eureka Reporter - 4/12/08
http://eurekareporter.com/article/080410-algae-toxins-found-in-fish-and-shellfish

SF Bay Independent Media - 4/11/08
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/10/18491952.php

US HALTS COMMERCIAL SALMON SEASON
Los Angeles Times - 4/12/08
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-salmon11apr11,1,7033457,full.story
No commercial or recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off the coast of California and most of Oregon this year.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to cancel the chinook fishing season in an effort to reverse the catastrophic disappearance of California's fabled run of the pink fish popularly known as king salmon. "I think it's probably the right thing to do," said Barbara Emley, 64, who has run a commercial fishing boat with her husband out of Fisherman's Wharf since 1985. It's tough, though. We're going to lose our (fishing) community. People are going to have to figure out what to do with five months of no income."

Associated Press - 4/11/08
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9RgO6ZxQLIpGz5B87A7aB4ShR2AD8VVCTP00

BATTLING UPSTREAM: THE TRIBES ON THE KLAMATH KNOW THAT AS THE RIVER GOES, SO GO THE SALMON
San Francisco Chronicle - 4/12/08
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/11/CMD4V8F7E.DTL
The Klamath River surges just below Merk Oliver's house. Right now, the water is slightly turbid, clouded and green - perfect for steelhead fishing. The Klamath is the second largest river in California, following the Sacramento, and its watershed encompasses a landscape that seems removed from the rest of the state by time as well as distance. Freeways, the digital economy, the entertainment industry, industrial agriculture - up here they seem like ill-recalled dreams.

"TRASH FISH" A BIG KEY TO SUSTAINABILITY
Lake Oswego Review - 4/10/08
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/features/story.php?story_id=120759933418493500
In the fish kingdom, the Pacific lamprey pretty well scrapes the bottom when it comes to prestige. In fact, over in the Great Lakes the lamprey are considered strictly a nuisance, an invasive species that is choking the streams for more worthwhile fish. The objective there is to kill them all off. “They’ve been labeled a trash fish,” said Robin Lewis, restoration coordinator for Friends of Tryon Creek State Park. But when it comes to sustainability in the Northwest, the Pacific lamprey are very important, indeed. They are a native species to this region, and their mysterious decline in recent years is truly cause for concern. If the Pacific lamprey disappears, what will disappear next? Probably a much more prestigious fish like the salmon. And the disappearing won’t stop there.

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ACTION ALERTS:

* COMMENTS NEEDED: ASK THE EPA TO EXPAND KLAMATH TOXIC ALGAE LISTING

Last month, a Klamath Riverkeeper lawsuit forced the EPA to list a section of the Klamath for toxins produced by the algae Microcystis aeruginosa. Now, the EPA's decision is open for official commenting, and we need to follow up on our success by telling the EPA to expand their listing to include more of the Klamath, and a broader definition of the toxin itself. Toxic algae impacted the Klamath from PacifiCorp's dams all the way to the mouth of the river, and we must insist the EPA widens its regulations to include this pollution, not just the toxins in PacifiCorp's reservoirs. Talking points and contact information are below.

1. The EPA listed the toxin microcystin, but not the toxic algae that produces it, Microcystis aeriginosa. Remind the EPA that Microcystis aeruginosa is also a pollutant, and has been listed as such in over 30 places, and should be listed as such on the Klamath.

2. Both the toxin microcystin, and the toxic algae Microcystis aerigunosa have been documented all the way from the reservoirs to the mouth of the Klamath River, at levels high enough to turn the entire river green and to force health officials to post the river as dangerous for recreational contact during the height of the fishing season. A recent report has also shown that mussels on the river below the reservoirs have had had levels of microcystin 66 times the safe seasonal intake levels for children, and even surpassed safe levels for single exposure in adults by 11 times. Despite this, the EPA told the Associated Press that the algae does not appear below PacifiCorp's reservoirs. Tell the EPA that toxic algae is a documented pollutant from the reservoirs to the mouth and needs to be officially recognized as such.

3. PacifiCorp's reservoirs are both creating, and releasing, toxic algae blooms and microcystin toxin, which is devastating the Klamath River's recreational economy and hurting Native American Tribes. This should be reflected in the EPA's decision.

Please take the time to write the EPA a letter asking them to list the Klamath River below the reservoirs as impaired for toxic algae, and microcystin toxin, or sign onto Klamath Riverkeeper's comments. To sign on, send your name, affiliation if you have one, and address to regina [at] klamathriver.org. Comments are due on April 28th.

Comments go to: Peter Kozelka
TMDL Liaison, Water Division (WTR-2)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Facsimile (415) 947-3537
E-mail: kozelka.peter [at] epa.gov

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

* FIRE RECOVERY FIELD TRIP ALONG THE KLAMATH - Saturday, April 12th - 11am rendezvous in Happy Camp
Join KS Wild, EPIC, Klamath Forest Alliance, Klamath Riverkeeper, Northcoast Environmental Center and Cascadia Wildlands Project for an educational hike into previously burned, mixed old-growth forests in the Klamath's Grider and Independence Creek watersheds. Field trip meets at 11am in the parking lot of Indian Creek River Access on Highway 96 (from I-5, drive east and then south on Highway 96 until you reach Happy Camp. The parking lot is on the south end of town, just past the Indian Creek Bridge, you will see bathrooms).

More info on the hike is at http://www.kswild.org/GetInvolved/Events/hcsalvagehike. For additional info contact KRK at 541-951-0126 or regina [at] klamathriver.org or KS Wild at lesley [at] kswild.org or 541-488-5789.

* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH FILM NIGHTS ON THE OREGON COAST! April 15th-18th
Please pass this announcement along to your friends and family on the Oregon Coast. Klamath Riverkeeper and the Karuk Tribe will present "Solving the Klamath Crisis: Keeping Fish and Farms Alive," an inspiring and informative documentary on the effort to un-dam the Klamath River, and return salmon to 300+ miles of historic spawning habitat blocked for the last 90 years.

All films shown at 7:00 pm, contact Malena at klamathriver.org for more info.
April 15 - The Liberty Theatre in ASTORIA
April 16 - The Hatfield Marine Science Center Auditorium in NEWPORT
April 17 - The Egyptian Theatre in COOS BAY
April 18 - The Chetco Community Public Library in BROOKINGS

* KLAMATH RIVERKEEPER TO SHOW FILM AT MT. SHASTA EARTH WEEK
Klamath Riverkeeper will show "Solving the Klamath Crisis: Keeping Fish and Farms Alive," and will also be available to meet the public and answer questions at events in Weed and Mt. Shasta.

Saturday, April 19th - Tabling at Mt. Shasta City Park
Monday, April 21st - Tour the Klamath with Klamath Riverkeeper and others, meet at 10:00 am at the College of the Siskiyous Student Center in Weed, CA
Monday, April 21st - See a showing of "Solving the Klamath Crisis", 6:30 pm at the College of the Siskiyous Life Sciences Room 3 in Weed, CA
Tuesday, April 22nd - Tabling at College of the Siskiyou Student Center in Weed, CA