Algae levels higher than ever

October 2, 2007

By Nicholas Grube

Triplicate staff writer

High concentrations of toxic blue-green algae in the Klamath River last week spurred tribal and governmental agencies to post signs warning the public to avoid contact with the water.

Two reservoirs located up the Klamath River — Iron Gate and Copco—are believed to be the source of the algae blooms, and could help sway the debate on whether dams along the waterway should be removed.

The Yurok Tribe and California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board posted warnings on nearly 200 miles of the Klamath River starting from the mouth after levels of toxic algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) were found to be more than double the state-mandated thresholds.

"When the levels that we monitor get above those thresholds, we have a responsibility to warn the public of the threat," said Yurok Tribe Environmental Director Kevin McKernan.

Toxins released from the algae when it dies is known to cause severe liver damage after long-term exposure and can cause minor sickness, such as eye irritations, skin rash, vomiting and diarrhea, from limited contact.

"The presence of this algae and the toxins poses a health hazard with folks in contact with the water," said Bob Klamt, interim executive officer of the California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.

"It can be quite dangerous and is certainly based on the dose that you receive. The more you get the more likely you're going to have a poisoning event."

Last week, levels of toxic algae near Klamath tested at 90,000 cells per milliliter, which is 50,000 more than state water quality standard of 40,000 cells per milliliter, McKernon said. It is one of the highest readings of blue-green algae levels the tribe has ever gotten.

"Folks have really noticed a marked increase in the river just looking green," he said. "Nobody ever remembers seeing the river this green. And that's directly from this type of algae."

The algae comes from large blooms formed in the Iron Gate and Copco Reservoirs located upstream in Siskiyou County , where McKernon says the levels are astronomical.

"To put it in perspective, in the Copco and Iron Gate dams, (these numbers) are in the tens of millions of cells," he said, because the reservoirs provide a perfect habitat for the blue-green algae.

Klamt says nutrients from Upper Klamath Lake , the drainage of wetlands and agriculture along the upper Klamath River dumps nutrients into the river. These nutrients come into in the reservoirs and collect, he said, and with sunlight and heat, this creates a good environment for large blue-green algae blooms to flourish.

"The dams are like a reactor. They grow the algae really well," Klamt said. "All those things come together to grow that algae bloom."

It is unclear whether removing the dams would have any affect on the algae blooms, Klamt said, because the complexities of how they're formed and what contributes to them is relatively new.

"If you remove the dams and take care of the nutrients that are there," he said, "you've taken away one of the ways the algae can grow."

Dam removal on the Klamath River has been a contentious issue lately as PacifiCorp—a Portland, Ore.,-based company that owns the hydroelectric structures—tries to renew its license to operate four dams on the river, including Iron Gate and Copco.

Tribal stakeholders and commercial fishermen want PacifiCorp to demolish the dams because salmon and steelhead cannot reach nearly 300 miles of spawning ground located up the river. Currently, the dams do not have fish ladders.

With the prevalence of toxic algae blooms, McKernan said it will make it even more difficult for PacifiCorp to get approval to extend their operating license because the dams need to pass clean water certifications.

But a spokesperson of Pacific Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, said the blue-green algae blooms are not unique to the Klamath River .

"It's been cropping up a lot more over the past few years ... in a number of water bodies throughout the region," said Toby Freeman, Pacific Power's regional community manager. "This is something that seems to be happening all over the place, and it's certainly something that's happening on the Klamath."

PacifiCorp gave $450,000 to the Blue Green Algae Work Group to get a better understanding of the blooms and how to solve the problem, Freeman said, adding that it is still a new issue for everyone.

"I don't know that anybody has a good enough handle on how this (M. aeruginosa) works. I think around the globe this has been cropping up," Freeman said.

"Water quality in general is certainly an important topic that both the state and federal agencies have to consider," Freeman added. "And blue-green algae is one of those problems that we're going to have to address."

Children, pets most susceptible to algae's toxins

The blue-green algae in the Klamath River occurs naturally in many surface waters.

But because of the large amounts of the algae in the river, it has become dangerous.

When environmental conditions are optimal, the algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) forms a large floating mass known as an algae bloom. These blooms can produce natural toxins that can be harmful to people and animals that come in contact with them.

The toxins, called microcystins, are held inside of the algae cells. When the cell dies, the toxins are released into the water. Microcystin is known to have adverse affects on the liver, and can cause liver failure, tumor growth and possible death.

According to a press release from the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, children and pets are the most susceptible to the toxin because of their likelihood of drinking the river water. Water activities such as swimming and water-skiing are also dangerous with high-levels of microcystin because there is more chance to swallow the toxin.

Fishing is low-risk, the tribes' release states, though it is hazardous to stand in algae-filled waters for long periods of time, especially in water-logged boots and waders because the toxins can make contact with bare skin.

It is okay to eat fish from the Klamath River, the tribes say, but it is recommended all fillets be rinsed with drinking water and no fish organs be consumed.

Anyone with questions about the toxic blue-green algae can call the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board at 707-576-2220.

Reach Nicholas Grube at ngrube@triplicate.com. 

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