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Toxic algae blooms plague one of Oregon's natural wonders


Two algae blooms spotted at Hells Canyon (Photo by KATU's Lincoln Graves)
Two algae blooms spotted at Hells Canyon (Photo by KATU's Lincoln Graves)
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The deepest river gorge in North America would likely draw huge numbers of tourists, if not for how inaccessible and remote it is. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is a roughly six hour drive from Portland. Approaching it from Boise or Spokane takes roughly four hours. Still, some tourists and adventure seekers do make the journey. For the past month, two toxic algae blooms have greeted them on arrival.

"It's disgusting," said an Idaho Power employee working near Hells Canyon Dam.

Hells Canyon Dam is one of three dams owned and operated by Idaho Power, a utility company that provides electricity to parts of Idaho and Oregon. The dams have turned part of the Snake River into a series of reservoirs. While blooms haven't formed in swift moving parts of the river, long sections of water impounded by the dams have become breeding grounds.

One bloom stretches for more than 10 miles upstream from Hells Canyon Dam. The water is choked with thick, smelly, blue-green algae. Although blooms have appeared in the past, the consensus is that this might be the largest in memory.

"It's one of the worst years," said Lance Holloway, a surface water manager with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ). "I've never seen it like that."

While Oregon environmental and health leaders are aware of the bloom, IDEQ is monitoring it, along with another one in nearby Brownlee Reservoir. In conjunction with health departments in Idaho and Oregon, advisories have been in place for the past month.

"Concentrations of toxins that we've seen in this bloom do seem to be higher than typical blooms of similar densities," said Darren Brandt, CEO of Advanced Eco-Solutions, the Washington based company contracted with IDEQ to perform lab tests.

The mere appearance of thick, soupy, green water is enough to keep most people out of the water. But signs have been placed around Hells Canyon Reservoir just in case. Holloway says there have been no confirmed reports of people getting sick from the blooms.

Algae blooms tend to thrive in warm water conditions, meaning these blooms may not disappear until cooler weather returns.

"There's not really anything that can be done," said Brad Bowlin, communications specialist for Idaho Power. "Scientists aren't even sure what causes these blooms or what triggers them."

"I don't really think you can point your finger to one person or entity," said Graham Freeman, who works with Holloway at IDEQ. "A lot of different factors tie in to these blooms."

For details on the dangers posed by algae blooms, you can visit the Oregon Health Authority's website.


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