home > klamath river news > press release 9/27/07
For immediate release:
September 27, 2007
Malena Marvin 541 821-7260
Regina Chichizola Klamath Riverkeeper 541 951-0126
Lawmakers Briefed on Klamath Dams as Klamath River turns green from toxins
Representatives shocked to find out up to fifty miles of the Klamath now hazardous
Last week Congressional members in D.C. were briefed about the dangerous levels of toxic algae that have now migrated out of PacifiCorp's dams on the Klamath River and polluted it for up to fifty miles. Representatives were shocked to see the photos of bright green reservoirs and to hear about the in river toxin postings.
This week the group Klamath Riverkeeper gathered support for Klamath Dam removal and educated lawmakers on the economic and health effects of PacifiCorp's toxins. During the visit sampling results from the Karuk Tribe confirmed what Klamath river uses have suspected, the bright green sheen covering the Klamath River is the same toxic algae, Microcystis aeruginosa, that has been in PacifiCorp’s reservoirs for years. A highly dangerous liver toxin is now turning the Klamath River bright green.
"PacifiCorp's Dams are creating and releasing toxic algae into the Klamath River at concentrations 4000 times what is considered a moderate health risk. For an area dependent on fishing and recreation dollars, the effects of this algae are devastating,” stated Malena Marvin of Klamath Riverkeeper. “The Klamath River, along with PacifiCorp’s reservoirs, is now a serious public heath issue. This is not a normal problem, but a man made hazard created by PacifiCorp’s dams."
Several months ago local tribal religious leaders, fishermen, recreation businesses and the Klamath Riverkeeper filed suit against PacifiCorp for the dam’s toxic pollution. Joseph Cotchett and Bobby Kennedy Jr. represent them. At the time when the suit was filed the record setting levels of toxic algae that plague the Klamath River where found mainly in PacifiCorp's reservoirs. Now this algal toxin is pervasive for a good portion of the Klamath River. Native American tribes, fishing unions, and recreationalist say this is a threat to their members. Environmental groups are also saying their members are afraid to use the river, which is why they took the issue to congress.
“Members of congress where shocked to see photos of one of the nations most loved Wild and Scenic Rivers turning bright green,” said Regina Chichizola from the Klamath Riverkeeper. “They know for all the people that depend on the Klamath River this is a disaster.”
With the algae toxin problems are only getting worst, Klamath River citizens say the only logical solution is to take out the antiquated Klamath dams, which provide very little power and would cost much less to remove then to retrofit to today's fish passage standards. A settlement group of farmers, Tribes, fishing interests, environmentalists, and federal and state governments say they are close to a Klamath solution. However, the owner of the dams, PacifiCorp, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has said they prefer to put the extra cost of keeping the dams on ratepayers rather then help solve the rotating crisis in the Klamath. Last year this crisis lead to an emergency declaration in California and Oregon, due to the salmon commercial salmons season being curtailed for 700 miles of coastline due to law Klamath Salmon runs.
"Buffett's PacifiCorp has stated any extra cost of keeping these fish killing dams will go on the bills of rate payers. Already taxpayers pay for relief for fishermen when salmon fishing is curtailed. Klamath residents pay by not being able to fish, swim, or boat in one of the nations most important Wild and Scenic Rivers," stated Chichizola. "The only one that isn't paying is PacifiCorp.”