Cattle Grazing on Former Klamath River Lakebed Raises Environmental Concerns

The Open Range cattle have been enjoying the RES plantings.

A band of black angus cattle has been enjoying the plantings by Resource Environmental Solutions in the lakebed sediments of the former Iron Gate Lake at Camp Creek.

At least four lactating heifers and two yearling calves, for a total of six cows, have been seen grazing and watering at the area known as Camp Creek off Copco Road in Siskiyou County, where the creek by the same name meets up with Scotch Creek.

Reports coming in from eyewitnesses starting early last week said that,

“a band of cattle has been seeking water in the creek and Klamath River, and on the way, spending the mornings and early afternoons snacking on the sparse vegetation in the lake bottom sediments.”

Recently, Siskiyou County employed their environmental law firm, Nossaman, to write a strongly worded letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (‘FERC’) that criticizes the Klamath River Renewal Corporation for failing to work with Siskiyou County on the project, and for failing to provide the fencing to turn away wildlife and livestock from the lakebeds and provide alternative water for these animals.

The full legal letter by Nossaman can be read here: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/natural_resources/page/30841/2024-04-18_siskiyou_county_comment_letter_to_ferc_re_lower_klamath_project.pdf

The key requests made by Siskiyou County through the Nossaman letter are:

• Require that KRRC, RES, and Trout Unlimited follow the necessary NEPA and CEQA analysis and documentation and obtain required permitting if large-scale fencing occurs or other actions outside of the FERC Order are to occur. 
• Require that the fencing project consider public access and require KRRC to engage with the public and County departments (including County Administration, Planning, and Ag. Commissioner’s Office) about the Project. *If the fence is installed, require KRRC to provide alternative watering facilities for wildlife and livestock. 

The questions that still come to mind:

• Are plants growing from the sediments, polluted with the *bio-accumulative toxins and heavy metals that are cited in the CDM Smith study?

And if so, are these toxins and heavy metals are ending up in the marketable meat of the cattle consuming these plants? And what about the deer, elk and rabbits consumed by humans?

And how will the human consumption of these cattle and game animals affect human health?

And if so, are these toxins and heavy metals ending up in the marketable meat of the cattle consuming these plants? And what about the deer, elk and rabbits consumed by humans?

And how will the human consumption of these cattle and game animals affect human health?

Learn about bio-magnification of toxins into plants and animals here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR2p-cNIx-E