By
TIM RIOS and BRAD SMITH
Daily News Staff Writers
Residents of the Copco Lake and Iron Gate surrounding areas dispute what they
say are “news reports about people and animals getting sick.”
“I can tell you,” said Copco resident Phil Reynolds, “I’ve lived here 26
years and I’ve never seen any of those things happen.”
The consensus among the community members at a
recent meeting was that no one in their community had ever become ill after
swimming in the lake or eating fish from it.
They said that the algae is an annual occurrence that has been a part of the
lake communities for as far back as they can remember. They avoid it and,
therefore, it’s not an issue, several residents said.
However, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency senior policy advisor
Maria Rey, the comments from Copco and Irongate residents cannot be viewed as
conclusive evidence that the algae poses no health risk.
“We appreciate that sort
of oral history,” Rey said. “But the truth is, there are several different
types of algae.”
Rey explained that although the Copco and Irongate residents say they have seen
algae in the water for years, it is possible that the algae they’ve seen
before is not the species now being detected in the Klamath.
Recent water sampling performed by the Karuk Tribe on the Klamath confirmed high
levels of a blue-green algae that could pose health risks, Rey said.
As part of an ongoing water
quality monitoring program, the EPA funded the Karuk Tribe in spring of 2005 to
conduct additional sampling on the Klamath, according to Rey.
“We didn’t know anything about the blue-green algae,” said Karuk Tribe
department of natural resources Klamath campaign coordinator Craig Tucker.
“What we were trying to find out was the health of the fish.”
The results of those tests found high levels of a blue-green algae species known
as microcystis aeruginosa in samples taken from
Shortly thereafter, a press
release issued by Siskiyou County Public Health warned of the possible effects
of contact with the algae.
An excerpt reads: “While there have been no documented cases of human illness
associated with blue-green algae in
Siskiyou County Health Officer Dr. David Herfindahl explained that while no ill
effects are anticipated from human interraction with the blue green algae, he
felt it was important to publicize all available health information about the
issue.
Terry Barber, the health
department’s director of environmental health, said that animal deaths
reported last year as being related to blue-green algae blooms did occur – but
not in
“That particular press release was about cases that happened in
In the Humboldt County case, dogs that had swum in the
“But that’s because
Anatoxin A was detected in the
According to www.cbwinfo.com, a chemical and biological weapons infomational web
site, Anatoxin A is synthesized by the blue-green alga Anabena flos-aquae.
Anatoxin-A binds to receptors that receive the acetylcholine impulses from nerve
ending. When the chest muscles responsible for breathing are affected,
overstimulation of the muscles leads to limb paralysis and death.
Barber said that there have
been no recorded cases of human or animal iillness or death from contact with
blue green algae in
Tucker confirmed that he did not know of any cases reported of sickness due to
blue-green algae found in the Klamath.
But the Yurok and Karuk tribes are voicing concern, they say, because their
lifestyle is widely connected to the river.
“We swim in the water, we
fish in the water,” said Karuk vice-chairman Leaf Hillman. “We want to make
sure our people are safe.”
In addition to the results found in Copco and Irongate in July, toxins were
detected in the lower Klamath on July 26, according to Ken Fetcho, the Yurok
Tribe environmental program water division assistant director.
“Low levels of the microsystin were detected during our routine monthly
tests,” Fetcho said.
The species of blue-green
algae known as microcystis aeruginosa produces a toxin known as microsystin.
In essence, Fetcho said, the toxin produced by the algae cells was detected
before the blooms themselves were.
Copco and Irongate residents also confirmed that no animals have died as a
result of the algae. They said that theirs is a “thriving ecosystem.”
“I have no fear putting my kids in the water,” said Irongate resident K.C.
Walden.
The residents questionned the method and location of the samples taken.
Several said that they witnessed samples being taken only along the shores where
the algae growth is most profuse.
“Were any deep samples taken in the middle of the lake?” one resident asked.
The answer to that question, according to Rey, is yes.
She confirmed that sample locations, including along the shores where swimmers
might come in contact with the algae, as well as mid-reservoir to test deeper
waters, were tested evenly.
Rey also said that the sampling techniques and protocols used by the Karuk Tribe
met the EPA’s quality assurance and quality control standards.
“The samples collected this July showed levels of microcystis aeruginosa more
than double the highest level recorded last August along the shoreline,” said
Jacob Kann, Ph.D., a water quality specialist who reported on the sampling
conducted by the Karuk and Yurok Tribes.
“The recent July levels exceed the World Health Organization standard for
moderate probability of adverse health effects by over 3,900 times,” he said.
Kann goes on to say, “Microcystin toxin produced by the blooms in one location
was 2813 micrograms/liter. That measurement is also the highest recorded to date
and exceeds the WHO guideline of 20 micrograms/liter by as much as 140 times.”
“The studies of human interaction with blue-green algae blooms are very
limited,” Barber said.
She added that there “aren’t standardized tests per se.”
Barber said that the most common methods used were enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA) and mass spectrometry.
Studies getting underway in
“We’re going to monitor their efforts, step-by-step,” Barber said.
“In a sense, this is new territory for everyone involved.”
The EPA stands by its numbers and urges the public to take steps to avoid
contact with the algae.
“We do see this as a serious risk,” Rey said. “The recent samples are the
highest in the continental
For more information on the Klamath Blue Green Algae Work Group, contact Trina
Mackie with the Klamath Watershed Institute at tmackie@berkeley.edu
with “Klamath BGA Work Group” in the e-mail subject line.
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Source: http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/articles/2006/09/01/news/doc44f8cbef00fca699280607.txt