Overfishing, logging, water diversions, dams, fish kills. Now, toxic algae has been causing concerns on the Klamath River.

Blooming in Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs is a species of algae that can be extremely harmful to humans and dogs if ingested. The problem may also exist in the slow-moving stretches of the lower river.

Amazingly, Pacificorp, the dam owner trying to renew its license to operate the dams that create the reservoirs in which the conditions persist, hasn’t performed a comprehensive study on the blue-green algae problem. Without a doubt, that inquiry should be made as part of the federal relicensing project.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must have the information it needs to weigh the benefits of the project in light of its apparent exacerbation of a public health nuisance. It needs to add that to the costs to salmon -- which have been taxed for decades, unable to reach once far more extensive spawning grounds because of the dams.

If Pacificorp won’t voluntarily look into the blue-green algae problem, FERC must make the utility analyze it.

The river has too many problems already.