Algae plagues Siskiyou water

Public warned to avoid lake growth

Ryan Sabalaw
Redding.com
07/07/2007

For the third straight summer, potentially deadly algae is blooming in Iron Gate Reservoir and Copco Lake, prompting health warnings from environmental officials and calls from tribal leaders to demolish the lakes' dams.

Because of the potential health risks, federal, state, local and tribal officials warned swimmers and boaters this week to stay away from the blue-green algae blooms in the Siskiyou County lakes, near the Oregon border between Yreka and Ashland, Ore.

Those who come in contact with the floating scum can suffer such maladies as skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea or cold- and flulike symptoms, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials warned.

In rare cases, contact with the strain of algae can lead to liver failure or death.

The blooms appear blue, green, white or brown and can be found in foam, scum or mats floating on the water.

Pets and young children who could possibly swallow or inhale the toxic slime in the water are most at risk, EPA officials said.

The warning again brought calls from the Karuk Tribe to demolish the dams on the Klamath River.

Tribal leaders, conservation groups and fishermen in recent years have urged Portland, Ore.-based Pacifi-Corp to remove the dams to improve declining salmon runs.