Regulators looking into how the hydroelectic project on the Klamath River impacts water quality will make their first stop to hold hearings on the critical issue in Eureka later this month.

The State Water Resources Control Board has begun to investigate several concepts for operating or removing the four dams under consideration on the river, dams which opponents of the project say radically impact water quality and fish.

In recent years, massive algae blooms in some of Pacificorp's reservoirs have become the focus of state agencies. Some of that algae is a toxic-blue green algae that has appeared in huge concentrations -- far above human health risk levels laid out by the World Health Organization. Warning signs have been posted for the past several years, cautioning about human and pet exposure to algae-thick water.

While Pacificorp is seeking a new license for its dams from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, it must have water quality certificates from California and Oregon to legally operate the project.

The state water board announced last week that it would draft an environmental impact report on several options, which include removing some or all of the dams, or leaving the dams in place but building fish ladders to pass salmon as required by federal fisheries agencies. Water board staff has said it won't consider Pacificorp's proposal to operate the facilities essentially status quo, saying it's not legally feasible.

Pacificorp had pulled its application for the permit in July, saying it hoped to help along settlement discussions among regulators, American Indian tribes, fishermen, farmers and environmentalists. But it reapplied recently -- the third time in all.

Greg King with the Northcoast Environmental Center took a recent trip to the reservoirs, which he described as thick with pungent algae. He said it's hard to imagine how the reservoirs could get a water quality permit given the conditions.

”This is the big one,” King said of the water quality proceedings. “This is the mechanism by which we can get those dams out.”

IF YOU GO:

Oct. 20.

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Six Rivers National Forest Headquarters

1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka

Oct. 20

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Klamath Public Yurok Tribe Headquarters

190 Klamath Blvd., Klamath

Oct. 21

12 - 2 p.m.

Karuk Community Center 39051 State Hwy. 96, Orleans