the farmers lost most of their crops, and some went bankrupt. the land – including several...
TRANSCRIPT
The farmers lost most of their crops, and some went bankrupt. The land – including
several wildlife refuges in the area – became a dustbowl.”
“The situation gained nationwide attention in April 2001 when a federal judge ordered
a complete ban on all water normally destined for some 1,400 farmers of the
Klamath River Basin, a large area straddling the Oregon-California state line.
The Lower Klamath River 2002 Fish Kill
Scientific Investigations
The Reported Cause:
FACT or FICTIONJoseph C. Greene
Research Biologist
Greene Environmental Services
Presented May 23, 2006
Yreka, California
Dead Fish in the Klamath River on September 25, 2002
First reports of fish deaths
were on September 19
Foul play revealed in Klamath fish kill
The Daily Triplicate, Henion, J., 2003, Foul play revealed in Klamath fish kill , http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=1035
The decision that led to the death of 33,000 salmon in the Klamath River last year was made to help an Oregon Republican Senator get re-elected, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"The largest fish-kill in America's history could have, and should have, been avoided if it were not for the political pressure put on scientists by administration officials looking for political gain," said U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) yesterday after reading the story.
Outlining several meetings between Rove, Department of Interior head Gale Norton, Sen. Gordon Smith and top Bush Cabinet members, the story said Rove drove a plan to make the farmers happy to help Smith get re-elected.
"While we confirmed a passing reference to the Klamath River Basin Project during an otherwise-unrelated presentation to senior Interior officials," Devaney wrote,.
The Truth Regarding Political Pressure!
A week after the Journal article appeared, presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry requested that Interior Department Inspector General Earl Devaney investigate Rove's alleged role in the Klamath decision, which Devaney agreed to do.
In a March 1, 2004 letter to Kerry, advising him of the results of the investigation, Devaney said his investigators interviewed all the officials and reviewed all the documents involved in the decision.
Devaney ultimately found that the administration process followed in this matter "did not deviate from the norm."
"we found nothing to tie Karl Rove's comments or presentation to the Klamath decision-making process”.
Devaney concluded that the department conducted itself in keeping with the administrative process, that the science and information utilized supported
the department's decisions, and that no political pressure was perceived by any of the key
participants."
There was virtually no coverage of these findings in the mainstream media, although it was widely covered when Kerry asked for the
initial investigation.
The Truth Regarding Political Pressure!
Foul play revealed in Klamath fish kill
Water flows to the lower Klamath were not increased this year after the gates were opened for farmers in 2002, despite pleadings by the Yurok Tribe and its chairperson Sue Masten, that the tribe was given senior water the tribe was given senior water rights by the Federal Government in a treatyrights by the Federal Government in a treaty.
Further evidence of the back-room finagling was outlined in the story, which said a biologist for National Marine Fisheries Service, Michael Michael Kelly, recently asked for protection under federal whistle-blower lawsKelly, recently asked for protection under federal whistle-blower laws.
Kelly said "he was subjected to political pressure to go along with the low-water plan and ordered to ignore scientific evidence castingignore scientific evidence casting doubtdoubt on the plan," according to the story.
"Today's Wall Street Journal sheds further light on what we have known all along — that sound science was ignored in allowing dangerously low water levels in the Lower Klamath Basin," Thompson said yesterday.
The Daily Triplicate, Henion, J., 2003, Foul play revealed in Klamath fish kill , http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=1035
Kelly's allegation that a there was a substantial likelihood that the government's decision to adopt its Klamath River flow regime represented a violation of law.
His claim that the fish die-off that occurred in 2002 provides the proof that NMFS engaged in "gross mismanagement".
Kelly's charge that NMFS engaged in a "gross waste of funds".
The Truth Regarding Statements by a National Marine Fisheries Service biologist!
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) in 2003 determined that allegations made by Michael Kelly did not warrant further
investigation and that the file for this case would be closed.
In a March 5, 2003 letter to Kelly, the Office of Special Counsel
declined to take further action on Kelly's claims, including:
Despite this decision, environmental activists (and the MEDIA!) continue to rely upon Kelly's allegations to support their argument
that Bush Administration policy makers "stifled" sound science during the development of the Klamath Project operations plan.
The Truth Regarding Statements by a National Marine Fisheries Service biologist!
"After careful review of your comments and the materials previously submitted, and consideration of the issues discussed in our recent telephone conversations, we have determined that our original decision to close the case was warranted," the Office of
Special Counsel stated in its letter to Kelly.
Also often overlooked in media coverage of this matter is the Administration's decision to direct the National Academy of Science - perhaps the premier science body in the land - to provide guidance
in federal Klamath decision-making.
Yurok Tribal Chairwoman Susan Masten addressing reporters October 2, 2002 in Washington, DC about the
devastating impact of the fish kill on her people.
Dead Fish Tied to Policy Flaws?
Congressman Mike Thompson delivers dead Klamath River fish to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, Washington, DC
October 2, 2002. The lower river economy in his district was devastated by the fish kill.
Dead Fish Tied to Policy Flaws?
Final CA Department Fish and Game analysis
concludes:
Low water flows were at the heart of 2002
tragedy; and
Kill size is possibly double the original
estimate
PRESS RELEASE, July 30, 2004
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Oregon Natural Resources Council, WaterWatch of Oregon
Commercial fishermen and conservationists today applauded the release of the California Department of Fish and Game's final report on the causes of the
tragic 2002 fish kill on the Klamath River.
PRESS RELEASE, July 30, 2004, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Oregon Natural Resources Council, WaterWatch of Oregon
The exhaustive, peer-reviewed report's primary conclusion-that low water flows resulting from upstream irrigation diversions were at the heart of the kill-is consistent with previous analyses conducted by the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Yurok Tribe.
PRESS RELEASE, July 30, 2004, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Oregon Natural Resources Council, WaterWatch of Oregon
The California Department of Fish and Game, has blamed the federal government for the deaths of 33,000 salmon and steelhead trout in the Klamath River in September because it diverted "too much water for farmers" last year without leaving "enough flow for the fish."
A 63-page study released Friday concluded that "too many migrating fish crowded into a depleted river, allowing the spread of two naturally occurring parasites that destroy the gills of fish. The salmon and steelhead subsequently died of asphyxiation."
The study also warned that unless the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation increases flows in coming years, "there is a
substantial risk for future fish kills on the Klamath River,“.
The bureau is the federal agency responsible for
overseeing agricultural water diversions from the Klamath.
PRESS RELEASE, July 30, 2004, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Oregon Natural Resources Council, WaterWatch of Oregon
Among the report'skey findings are:
"USGS has revised the average September 2002 flows down to 1,870 cfs (cubic feet per second), which if accurate, represents the second lowest flow ever recorded."
"Increased flows...(on the Klamath River) should be implemented to improve water temperatures, increase water volume, increase water velocities, improve fish passage, provide migration cues and decrease fish densities."
"Flow is the only controllable factor and tool available in the Klamath Basin to manage risks against future epizootics and major adult fish-kills."
"Let me put it this way – if it is [the cause], you certainly can't use Fish and Game's report to make that conclusion," said Vogel, adding that the most "striking feature" of the report is that "the Department of Fish and Game is building a strong case for its lack of scientific objectivity."
WorldNetDaily, 2003, Bush plan to save Klamath farmers a mistake? Scientist disputes state agency’s conclusion that feds caused massive fish kill.
“Vogel told WorldNetDaily he was "shocked" and "astounded" at the department's conclusion
that the fish kill was due to insufficient water.
"They're trying to build a case – and I believe it's a very weak case – by trying to attack low-flow
releases from Irongate Dam without looking at all the factors in a holistic fashion that is always
necessary in scientific analysis," he remarked.
"There's a lot of speculation and a lot of innuendo in their report, and a lot of technical information that Fish and Game did not include," said Vogel.
WorldNetDaily, 2003, Bush plan to save Klamath farmers a mistake? Scientist disputes state agency’s conclusion that feds caused massive fish kill.
"Notably lacking from the report is an analysis of the water temperatures that were present in the Upper Klamath River downstream of Irongate
Dam during the time of the fish kill," he explained, adding that the information was available.
"I did have water temperature thermographs in the Upper Klamath River downstream of Irongate
Dam and I did examine the data – which clearly demonstrate that the water temperatures from Irongate Dam in the main stem of the Upper
Klamath were within lethal range for salmon."
WorldNetDaily, 2003, Bush plan to save Klamath farmers a mistake? Scientist disputes state agency’s conclusion that feds caused massive fish kill.
"Lethal range," he emphasized. "They were too high.
WorldNetDaily, 2003, Bush plan to save Klamath farmers a mistake? Scientist disputes state agency’s conclusion that feds caused massive fish kill.
In other words, there was no place for the fish to go."
but the problem with that is that even if the flow had been increased the water temperatures were
unsuitably warm for salmon in the upper river.
So Fish and Game attempts to build an argument for increased flow below
Irongate Dam during early September …
"The (farm) acreage hasn’t increased in 50 years, Keppen said.
And from another source we have this:
The new water demands have been created by regulatory agencies seeking additional
water for fish habitat.”
downstream flows have increased 30 percent over discharges before settlement.
A consulting hydrologist, Mark Van Camp of Sacramento, told the water users an analysis of the draft BuRec historic water flow study shows that
That’s apparently because the irrigated land uses less water than evaporation loss from the thousands of acres of wetlands that existed before the shallow lakebeds
were diked, drained and put to the plow."
In 2001, both the US FWS and the NMFS issued "biological opinions" under the Endangered Species Act that required
higher water levels to protect endangered suckers and higher flows to protect threatened coho salmon.
In an interim report released last year, the Research Council committee found no substantial scientific support for the higher water-level or flow requirements … The committee also noted,
however, that lower minimum water levels in Klamath Lake, proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation lacked, scientific backing as well
Findings of the committee suggest that maintaining water levels higher than that of the recent past is not likely to be effective in restoring sucker populations. Similarly, the committee found that the effect of higher minimum flows in the Klamath River on coho salmon is unlikely to lead to their recovery, although higher flows
may benefit other species that are not endangered or threatened.
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
National Academies' National Research Council
October. 22, 2003
Instead of focusing primarily on how water levels and flows affect endangered and threatened fish in Oregon's Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River … federal agencies
charged with protecting the fish should pay greater attention to other causes of harm … such as removal of migration
obstacles, improvement of habitat, and reduction of summer water temperatures in tributaries.
"The continued emphasis on water levels in Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath's main stem is too narrow a basis for
the recovery of the suckers or salmon" … "The agencies should develop expanded recovery plans that confront the
root causes of the fishes' decline."
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
The biggest detriment to coho
salmon is probably
excessively high summer
temperatures in tributary waters, the committee
concluded.
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And
Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
To remedy this problem, cool water should be procured -- by purchasing, leasing, or trading
for groundwater -- to re-establish lower summer temperatures in streams, and woody
vegetation should be restored along the tributaries to provide shade.
Agriculture, forestry, and road construction should be managed to prevent further degradation of
tributary habitat in the lower basin, and …..
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
Competition with fish grown in hatcheries and released into the river could be a severe
handicap to the recovery of coho salmon, the committee noted, adding that hatcheries may
need to close or alter their operations if adaptive management of hatcheries verifies that
current operations are harmful to coho.
officials should consider removing the Dwinnell and Iron Gate dams, which block access of coho
salmon to good habitat.
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
The National Academies' National Research Council committee estimated
that the research, monitoring, and remediation outlined in its report would
cost about $25 million to $35 million over the next five years ….
excluding costs for major projects such as dam removal.
$ $ $$ $ $
National Academies' National Research Council , 2003, News Release, Broader Approach Needed for Protection And Recovery of Fish in Klamath River Basin
The process of re-licensing Iron Gate Dam has itself led to a more intense focus by agencies, tribes and environmental organizations of the effects of the dam and on dam decommissioning. This concern with the presence of
Iron Gate and other dams in the upper Klamath Basin has led many organizations to request information on the removal of dams. As listed
below:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Department of Fish and Game
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
California State Water Resources Control Board
USDA Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests
Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission
National Marine Fisheries Service
California Energy Commission
National Academy of Science
Klamath Tribes
Yurok Tribe
Karuk Tribe
Fish, which were once plentiful beyond any sense of potential depletion, are now either threatened or nearing extinction, and will certainly be so in the
near future unless a real examination of the situation and decisive acts replace the political and economic argumentation of the past few decades.
The Klamath Basin Coalition is an alliance of local, regional and national organizations dedicated to conserving and restoring the
biological resources of the West's once-great Klamath Basin.
THE KLAMATH BASIN COALITION
American Rivers
Defenders of Wildlife
Earthjustice
Friends of the River
Headwaters
Institute for Fisheries Resources
Klamath Basin Audubon Society
Klamath Forest Alliance
Northcoast Environmental Center
Oregon Natural Resources Council
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Sierra Club-Oregon Chapter
Trout Unlimited
The Wilderness Society
Waterwatch of Oregon
World Wildlife Fund
About 30,000 migrating adult salmon were killed in the
Klamath River in 2002 by two common pathogens that become
lethal to fish under stress.
Studies by the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Geological Survey
showed that neither the river flows nor temperatures that occurred during the fish kill
were unprecedented, and the committee agreed that neither flow nor temperature conditions alone can explain the fish kill.
Most of the salmon killed were chinook, which are not listed as endangered or
threatened. Only about 1 percent (344) were coho, which migrate later than chinook.
Factors Contributing to the Decline of Anadromous Species
The decline of anadromous species, within the Klamath River Basin, can be attributed
to a variety of factors which include both flow and non-flow factors.
Logging
Mining
Road building
Over harvest
Stream habitat alterations
Livestock grazing
Irrigated agriculture
Climatic change
Droughts
Ocean Temperatures
Fires
Changes in water quality and temperature
Introduced species
Reduced genetic integrity from hatchery production
Predation
Disease
Poaching
Department of the Interior, 1999, Evaluation of Interim Instream Flow Needs in the Klamath River.
The high density of fish, low discharges, warm water temperatures, and possible extended residence time of salmon
created optimal conditions for parasite proliferation and precipitated an epizootic of Ich and columnaris.
What Caused the 2002 Klamath River Fish Kill?
USFWS, 2003, Klamath River Fish Die-off September 2002: Causative Factors of Mortality, Report Number AFWO-F-02-03
The proximate cause of death was heavy infections of two fish pathogens, Ich and columnaris. However, given that these
ubiquitous pathogens are normally found in the Klamath River, additional factors must have played a role for
them to have become lethal.
Based on a review of available literature and historical records, this was the largest known pre-spawning adult salmonid die-off recorded for the Klamath River and
possibly the Pacific coast.
Klamath Water Users Association Press Release: Fact Sheet
April 21, 2003
Study Shows That Klamath River Temperatures – Not Klamath Project Operations – Are Likely Reason for 2002 Fish Die-Off
It appears that large numbers of salmon entered the lower Klamath River earlier than usual, were exposed to two dramatic and uncharacteristic
cooling and warming conditions that were chronically and cumulatively stressful to fish.
These data indicate that September 2002 was unique, but not for the reasons portrayed by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Until additional data is acquired on the topic, Vogel’s opinion is that the combination of those factors is probably the most plausible reason for the fish die-off.
At the same time, riverine conditions in the upper Klamath River were unsuitably warm for salmon because the normal seasonal cooling trend had not yet occurred.
Klamath Water Users Association
Press Release: Fact Sheet
April 21, 2003
"In my opinion, the best available scientific data and information indicate that the continued operation and maintenance of historical flows at Iron Gate Dam will not jeopardize coho salmon.
Furthermore, in my opinion the operations of Iron Gate Dam during the summer and fall of 2002 did not cause and could not have prevented the fish die-off in the lower Klamath River.“ Dave Vogel, Fisheries Biologist
Gill Rot Symptoms
Initially there are no symptoms because the disease is out of sight
behind the gill covers but once some damage has been done to the gills the fish will begin to gasp at the surface in an effort to maintain
their oxygen supply to their body. the fish will also become
increasingly lethargic due to the lack of oxygen.
The cause of gill rot does not explain the blisters and boils
covering the fishes bodies.
“Last year, all the fish were sick I could tell because they were bleeding, every time they hit the net they would be bleeding before you clubbed them. And after the river came up, about ten days later the fish got better. So I think that if they wouldn’t have released the water I think a lot more than 30,000 fish would have wound up dying.
Statement by Harold Tripp Traditional Fisherman, Cultural
Technician Karuk Department of Natural
Resources
John F. Salter, Ph.D., 2003, WHITE PAPER ON BEHALF OF THE KARUK TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA, A Context Statement Concerning The Effect of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project on Traditional Resource Uses and Cultural Patterns of the Karuk People
Within the Klamath River Corridor, Written Under Contract with PacifiCorp in Connection with Federal Energy Relicensing Commission Proceedings Concerning the Relicensing of Iron Gate Dam, Performed Under: Contract No. 3000020357
They had some kind of big boils on They had some kind of big boils on them,them,
and some of them, had blisters”.and some of them, had blisters”.
“Soon after the fish kill manifested itself (7-days), claims were made that toxic substances may have been the cause. Water samples were collected from 5 locations to determine if any
toxic substances were present at concentrations toxic to fish.”
Organochlorine pesticides (i.e., Hexachlorobenzene, DDE, Pentachlorophenol, Trichlorophenol, Oxychordane, Mirex, Heptachlor Epoxide);
Triazine pesticides (atrazine, simazine, propazine, and the degradants diamino-chlorotriazine (DACT), desethyl-s-atrazine (DEA), and desisopropyl-s-atrazine (DIA);
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) :used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications including electrical, heat transfer, and hydraulic equipment; as plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products; in pigments, dyes and carbonless copy paper and many other applications; and,
Glyphosate (a non-selective herbicide to kill weeds ).”
No substances were found at concentrations toxic to fish and therefore, were not a factor in the 2002 fish kill.
“The scans tested for a broad spectrum of organic compounds including:
California Department of Fish and Game, 2003, September 2002 Klamath River Fish Kill, Preliminary Analysis of Contributing Factors, p.45
Dead fish up Blue Creek a tributary to the Klamath River
A single moribund coho salmon carcass, measuring 77 cm Fork Length, was collected by the U. S. FWS on October 3, 2002 (reports of dying fish began September 19), at the
mouth of Blue Creek for tissue analysis of contaminants. The carcass was immediately placed on ice, then frozen and submitted to the CDFG Fish and Wildlife Water Pollution Control Laboratory for pesticide and organic contaminant analysis.
One Fish Was Collected One Fish Was Collected for Gill Tissue Sample for Gill Tissue Sample
Analysis for Analysis for ContaminantsContaminants
Fish Tissue Sample Collectedfor Analysis of Contaminants
These analyses, although based on a fish collected later during the fish die-off (15-days), support the
finding of no persistent toxic pesticide, herbicide, or PCB congener in the water at the time of the die-off.
The gill, because it is an active site of contaminant uptake, was excised by the
CDFG for tissue analysis.
USFWS, 2003, Klamath River Fish Die-off September 2002: Causative Factors of Mortality, Report Number AFWO-F-02-03
Their analyses of 1 fish tissueTheir analyses of 1 fish tissuedid not detect any contaminants.did not detect any contaminants.
Organochlorine
Organophosphate
Pyrethroid
Carbamate pesticides
Triazine herbicides
Glyphosate
Surfactants
PCB congeners
The U. S. FWS Analyzed a The U. S. FWS Analyzed a Gill Tissue forGill Tissue for::
A Methamphetimine WasteA Methamphetimine Waste Dump Might DistributeDump Might Distribute::
Toluene
Ether
Drain cleaner (sulphuric acid)
Car batteries (lithium)
Red Devil lye (sodium hydroxide)
Hydrochloric acid
White gas
Laundry soap
Diesel fuel
Why do you suppose that chemical analysis of the gill tissue did not detect any contaminants?
The California Department of Fish and Game (CADFG) and the U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service (U. S. FWS) each separately concluded that toxic substances could not have caused the fish kill.
In reality there's no way in the world that
either agency could reach that conclusion when the water samples were taken by CADFG a full week after the fish kill was underway and the U. S. FWS collected their 1 fish 15-days after
the fish kill was underway.
Most significantly neither agency analyzed for the chemicals that might be
found in a meth lab dump. An analysis of the wrong classes of chemicals is the
equivalent of no analysis at all and the analytical test results do not allow for a
conclusion that “toxic substances could not have
caused the fish kill”.
09/20/02 Dead Count %Reach 1 732 26.4Reach 2 1, 202 43.5Reach 3 759 27.4Reach 4 76 2.7 Total 2,76909/24/02 Dead Count %Reach 1 18,345 55.0Reach 2 8,590 25.8Reach 3 5,411 16.2Reach 4 1,014 3.0 Total 33,36009/27/02 Dead Count % Reach 1 22,474 60.7Reach 2 10,436 28.2Reach 3 3,151 8.5Reach 4 970 2.6 Total 37,031
Table 2. Summary of fish counts and estimated numbers of dead fish determined from surveys to
assess the September 2002 Klamath River fish die-off.
USFWS, 2003, Klamath River Fish Die-off September 2002, Report on Estimate of Mortality, Report Number AFWO-01-03
X
Klamath Basin Water Crisis, 2005, 2002 fish die-off FACTS & ARTICLES, http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/articles/00FishKill2002.htm
Summary of Some Fish die-off Facts Water levels in the Klamath in 2002 were higher than water levels during three of the last 10 years. There were no significant die offs of salmon in those years when water levels were lower than they were earlier last fall, suggesting that other factors than flows may be responsible for the disease that killed the fish;
The number of returning salmon at Iron Gate Hatchery on the Klamath River in 2002 was the THIRD HIGHEST since records have been taken (1961). 100,000 healthy fish returned to upstream hatcheries and spawning areas;
The Klamath Project only represents 2% of the entire
Klamath River watershed;
Project releases from Iron Gate Dam represent just one of
over 100 downstream "tributaries" to the Klamath River
mainstem;
The fish kill occurred 200 miles from the Klamath Basin;
There is simply no scientific or other evidence to suggest that
increased warm-water flows in the Klamath at the time of the
fish kill would have provided any benefit to the salmon fisheries;
Most of the fish killed were Trinity-River chinook salmon.
Summary of Some Fish die-off Facts
Klamath Basin Water Crisis, 2005, 2002 fish die-off FACTS & ARTICLES, http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/articles/00FishKill2002.htm
"They have no morals, no "They have no morals, no integrity, and they don’t integrity, and they don’t
care about us."care about us."
American farmers, ranchers, miners and property rights advocates are forever continuing to fight for their very
existence. The impact on their families, their way of life and the lifestyle they wish to share, and ultimately leave to future
generations, has more than one common enemy.
Pioneer Press, Barry R. Clausen, B. R., 2004, My Opinion: "Foreigners" in "Armed Boats" Kill Klamath Fish, Outside Magazine - August 2003
Most believe it is environmentalism,
but without liberal left wing media, where would these radical earth worshippers be?