This water scientist wrote that overreaction was not wise and that it would cause needless alarm. It was obvious that confusion was caused by the overreaction of Professor Carmichael and a graduate student, Jacob Kahn. The algae in question had been in full bloom for over five weeks when they gave their "toxic algae story" to the press. Five weeks was more than ample time to have discerned that there was no algae threat to anyone or anything. Do not fault the newspaper because they were doing their job and rightly so.

The problems generated by the Prof. and the grad. student were:
a) Statements which alarmed the public
b) Stating that a strain of Microcystis aeruginosa has a fast toxin
c) Stating that a few licks by a dog would kill it
d) Stating that if cattle drank from the lake they would sicken and die.

The information they provided was not true. No fast toxin was present in the lakes, rivers, irrigation ditches or stock tanks in the Klamath Basin.

To compound the problems a national magazine published the erroneous information provided by Dr. Carmichael and Mr. Kahn, which has cast a broad, undesirable shadow on the Klamath Basin.

Certainly, it would have been wise to have exercised better judgment-. however, they continue to compound the problem. A problem of their making.

Perhaps, this old scientist is the only one of the Klamath "players" who has had personal, hands-on experience with blooms of Cyanobacteria which have destroyed lakes and others which had a fast action toxin. These experiences were seriously instructive. For example, when a fast toxin was produced by a species of blue green at Lake Spokane (Long Lake) in 1975, animals died by drinking a small amount of the water. Legal action was taken and this scientist was an expert witness in the case for six years (1975-1981). That experience plus similar events in the States mentioned above and elsewhere were great learning experiences. Is there any substitute for knowledge with experience?

Originally this investigator was trying to allay the fear and anxiety imposed upon dog, horse and cattle owners. Now, there is concern that the entire Klamath Basin has been stigmatized. Yet, there never was a problem.

The national magazine which was provided information by Dr. Carmichael and Mr. Kahn published that Klamath Lake was toxic. It wasn't. Kahn was quoted in the magazine saying temperature was the governing factor for the algae bloom because it was hot. That also, is not true. In fact, most blooms occur in late summer through late fall in the north temperate zone when it is rather cool. The primary governing factors are ortho, meta and total phosphate via over enrichment.

A little learning .......................