Conservation groups seeking removal of four aging Klamath River dams near the California border welcomed a report Wednesday by the National Research Council confirming studies indicating that salmon and other fish need more water.
This report is a major victory for salmon, commercial fishermen, Native Americans, and everyone else who cares about the health of the Klamath River,” said Steve Pedery, conservation director for Oregon Wild, based in Portland.
{more, and why this sucks for Gordon Smith, below}
High concentrations of toxic blue-green algae in the Klamath River last week spurred tribal and governmental agencies to post signs warning the public to avoid contact with the water.
Two reservoirs located up the Klamath River-Iron Gate and Copco-are believed to be the source of the algae blooms, and could help sway the debate on whether dams along the waterway should be removed.
The Yurok Tribe and California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board posted warnings on nearly 200 miles of the Klamath River starting from the mouth after levels of toxic algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) were found to be more than double the state-mandated thresholds.
"When the levels that we monitor get above those thresholds, we have a responsibility to warn the public of the threat," said Yurok Tribe Environmental Director Kevin McKernan.
Toxins released from the algae when it dies is known to cause severe liver damage after long-term exposure and can cause minor sickness, such as eye irritations, skin rash, vomiting and diarrhea, from limited contact.
Man, we're reaching Gary Hart "Prove I'm a cheating sleazebag" territory here. Two more articles (one unfortunately behind the dratted subscriber firewall) have appeared in state media, as outlets continue to ask Gordon Smith (and now Greg Walden) about his actions and responses to the Klamath fish kill story.
The one I can't link to is from the Bend Bulletin, notoriously conservative among state media but covering what has now become serious news. In a piece published yesterday and headlined "Smith reverses course on salmon die-off," he tries to color previous remarks by fibbing further about what he said, while his spokesperson claims he's not reversing at all, and Democratic challenger Steve Novick nails exactly what he's doing. Check it out below the jump...
Smith maintains there's no evidence it was caused by water diversions to farmers. Smith also defended Cheney's role in intervening with Federal Officials to help farmers in the Klamath Basin.
The House Natural Resources Committee is investigating whether Cheney exerted improper political influence to override scientifically based management of the water resources.
A study by the California Department of Fish and Game found that the water diversions played a key role in the deaths of some 77 thousand salmon.
Even better, is the exceptionally devastating video of the newscaster reading the copy while pictures of thousands of dead salmon lie prostrate in the water. You can click on the link to see the video.
Sen. Gordon Smith said Tuesday that he has no regrets about the diversion of water from the Klamath River that was intended to protect fish but instead went to farmers.
The 2002 water diversion - and subsequent die-off of 77,000 salmon and eventual suspension of coastal fishing - was the subject of hearings that began last week in a U.S. House committee.
In 2002, Smith's lobbying for increased irrigation in the Southern Oregon region was a topic he raised during that year's campaign. In a TV ad, farmers praised the Republican lawmaker's efforts on their behalf.
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But with next year's Senate campaign approaching, the issue is more double-edged for Smith. The Democratic Party of Oregon highlighted last week's congressional hearing by calling on Smith to apologize and answer for his role.
In a meeting with The Register-Guard editorial board, the Oregon senator offered his most expansive explanation to date since since the issue's revival in recent weeks. Smith defended his and Cheney's efforts to help Klamath basin farmers salvage their crops during drought.
"I am not here to make any apologies," said Smith, who faces re-election next year. "I am proud to fight for the farmers or any group of Americans whom the federal government says has no standing, no water. I just find that offensive."
Smith downplayed his connection to Cheney in that chapter. He said he did not recall speaking with the vice president, but did lobby President Bush during a flight on Air Force One to allow some of the basin's water dedicated for imperiled sucker fish to be diverted to withering croplands and pastures.
"I was not familiar with all the things the vice president was doing," Smith said, referring to the Washington Post's account.
Yeah, maybe not ALL of them, like when he went to the john on October 3, 2001 or whether he went for an after dinner walk at 5 or 6pm on Tuesday, April 17th, 2002--but he knew the important stuff about what they were going to do in the Klamath situation. Playboy centerfold photos don't get the kind of close airbushing attention that statement must have received, in order to avoid the real issue.
But there's a far more pernicious avoidance of the truth and deceitful defensiveness with which Smith addresses the questions...
{more}
Update 9:12AM: Phil Wright of the East Oregonian is not only a sycophant for Gordon Smith--he's such a shitty reporter that he calls Jeff Merkley the President of the Oregon Senate:
But that may not be easy. The Democratic Party of Oregon sees Smith as vulnerable, but, so far, the biggest name to run against Smith is Jeff Merkley, president of the Oregon Senate.
Jeff Merkley is the SPEAKER OF THE OREGON HOUSE, dimwit. Is this really the best that the paper of record in Pendleton can do? What a disgrace.
Add NOAA to the list of federal agencies corrupted by the Bush Administration. .
Many of you may recall that in the lead-up to the 2004 election, some GOPers errantly sent their campaign-related emails to georgewbush.org addresses instead of georgewbush.gov. This is where many of the vote-caging emails were discovered.
This cache of emails, referred to by the proprietor of the mailbox and related White House parody website that received the wrongly-directed messages as the "Dead Letter Office", also contains this email:
Can I say for the 10th time that the Democratic Party of Oregon has become an aggressive, rapid response MACHINE since Meredith and Marc took over? They are taking charge of the task to define and explain Gordon Smith's real work in the Senate, and folks are starting to listen:
Two days after DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith called on U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) to apologize for coordinating with Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney and President Bush to earn votes by endangering Oregon’s fishing industries and salmon population, Smith is still silent on the issue.
But the media is raising more and more questions for Smith about his coordination with Cheney and other White House leaders to choose politics over science to earn him votes.
“Gordon Smith should not stay silent on his political abuse of the Klamath River,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “In 2002, Gordon Smith couldn’t stop running television ads and boasting to Oregonians about turning on the water. Now that 70,000 salmon are dead, countless fishermen have lost their livelihood and the U.S. House is looking into his actions, he’s suddenly media shy. Gordon Smith should take responsibility for his actions. Gordon Smith should explain when he first contacted Dick Cheney and the White House, what he asked of Dick Cheney, and why Dick Cheney made personal calls on his behalf to divert the water to earn Smith re-election.”
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