PacifiCorp’s Klamath Dams Discharging Dangerous Toxins Into Klamath River.

PacifiCorp’s “emissions-free” dams on the Klamath River have not only brought the once-mighty Klamath salmon runs to the brink of extinction (and the commercial salmon fishery along with it), but they’re also poisoning the lakes:

SACRAMENTO, CA- Today the Klamath Riverkeeper, the Karuk Tribe of California, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association (PCFFA) jointly petitioned for the California State Water Board to hold PacifiCorp accountable for dangerously high blooms of toxic blue green algae in Klamath reservoirs.

Since 2005, Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs have seen some of the most toxic blooms of the toxic algae Microcystis aeruginosa ever recorded in the United States (see http://www.karuk.us/press/06-08-08%20toxic%20reservoirs.pdf for details).

Health experts warn that even modest exposure to the toxin produced by the algae, called microcystin, can lead to skin rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea. High doses of the toxin, such as those found in the Klamath reservoirs each summer, could lead to massive liver failure and even death in humans. Microcystin also can poison and kill fish and wildlife.

Source: Groups Want PacifiCorp Held Accountable for Toxic Discharges into Klamath River : Indybay

Ahh, lovely stuff.

Let’s do the math.

These four hydro projects have destroyed a once-mighty salmon run, put much of the West Coast’s commercial salmon industry on the skids, damaged a huge sport fishing industry, and created a toxic stew every summer that’s so foul, swimming in it could lead to liver failure or even death.

What we get is only enough energy (sometimes) to power 70,000 houses–the cash equivalent of which isn’t even a small fraction of the economic impacts of these four dams.

Despite the fact that pretty much everybody on the planet knows what should be done, PacifiCorp is threatening to keep the salmon-extincting dams, sticking ratepayers with the costs of retrofitting them with fish ladders (which don’t address water quality issues).

Isn’t it time Warren Buffet of Berkshire-Hathaway (owners of PacifiCorp) said “enough” to this insanity?

Save a Salmon. Eat a Dam.

[tags]klamath river, klamath, pacificorp, salmon, karuk[/tags]