Bad Meat?

One study shows Dam waters produce dangerous fish

By Phil Hayworth

Pioneer Press

Fort Jones , CA

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

page W1, column 2

pioneerp@sisqtel.net

 
Contrary to the many folks who live and recreate on Iron Gate and Copco lakes, the Karuk Tribe and at least one aquatic scientist insist some fish there could be dangerous to eat.

A report based on a toxicological analysis performed by an aquatic ecologist in Ashland purportedly found the algal toxin microcystin in the meat of perch and mussels from Iron Gate and Copco lakes.

In high doses - and typically during the bloom-rich, warm summer months - toxin from the algae Microcystis aeruginosa is known to cause liver damage and promote tumor growth in fish, sometimes causing death. But this latest study suggests microcystin could spread from fish livers to the meat. The implication is that the toxin would then pass to the person who ingests the fish.

Toxins commonly accumulate in the livers of organisms but until now it was unclear if the toxin would be found in the muscle tissue which is the part of the fish normally consumed by sport fishermen. 

The report concludes that, "In light of these bioaccumulation data, public health advisories should include warnings for the ingestion of fish and freshwater mussels."

But Toby Freeman of PacifiCorp, a Portland-based power company that owns the Iron Gate and Copco dams, said it's too early to issue health warnings.

The tissues samples were gathered by California Department of Fish and Game under contract to the California Water Board with funding from the Environment Protection Agency. The report titled Microcystin Bioaccumulation in Klamath River Fish and Freshwater Mussel Tissue: Preliminary 2007 Results purportedly shows that during summer months when the algae blooms persist, microcystin is present in fillets of yellow perch from Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs as well as freshwater mussels in the Klamath River . Microcystin levels in freshwater mussel samples exceeded the allowable seasonal intake level for children by as much as 66 fold. Toxin levels in yellow perch exceeded the allowable seasonal intake level for children by as much as 10 fold. Acute, or one-time intake levels, were also exceeded for many of the samples.

Fishing for the non-native yellow perch in the reservoirs is popular among anglers while river mussels are an important traditional food for the Karuk and other Tribes, said Karuk spokesperson Craig Tucker.

"According to numerous studies," read a press release from Tucker, "the algae blooms are brought on by the presence of PacifiCorp's Klamath dams. By creating warm shallow reservoirs, the dams create the perfect conditions for the algae Microcystis aeruginosa to thrive."

Last summer, the Northcoast Regional Water Quality Control Board posted warnings urging swimmers and boaters to avoid contact with the reservoirs and the Klamath River all the way to the ocean due to the presence of the algal toxin. Recently, the U.S. EPA reversed an earlier decision and moved to list the Klamath River as "impaired" by toxic algae.

Meanwhile, PacifiCorp is currently seeking to renew their license to operate the dams.

However, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can issue a new license, the water boards of California and Oregon must issue clean water permits, Tucker said.

"The Karuk Tribe hopes that the toxicology data is considered by the states as they review PacifiCorp's application for a clean water permit," he said.

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