BONNEVILLE DAM, OR – As outdoor recreation picks up for summer, a clean-water advocacy group reminds people that some fish around Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River are not safe to eat due to high levels of pollutants.
The “do not eat” advisory spans about a mile from the dam upriver to Ruckle Creek.
The area was used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for chemical storage and waste disposal for decades, starting in the 1930s.
As a result, resident fish there contain some of the highest levels of the cancer-causing chemicals known as PCBs in the country.
Kate Murphy, senior community organizer with Columbia Riverkeeper, said the Army Corps of Engineers hasn’t prioritized the cleanup.
“It’s taken a lot of outside pressure,” said Murphy, “from the Confederated Bands and Tribes of Yakama Nation and other tribes, as well as environmental groups like Columbia Riverkeeper, to get this site listed as a Superfund site.”
Murphy explains migratory fish – like salmon, steelhead, and shad – are still safe to eat from the area because they’re not feeding in the polluted water all year.
The species that are not safe to eat include carp, bass, sturgeon and several others. Murphy said the Oregon Health Authority website has more details.
Part of the problem, said Murphy, is that there isn’t enough data yet to know how to make a thorough cleanup.
She said now that the area has been designated a Superfund site, the Environmental Protection Agency will oversee the Army Corps’ efforts.
“We are pushing for a thorough investigation of the nature and extent of the contamination,” said Murphy, “to make sure that it’s done right and that people then can feel confident fishing and recreating in this area.”
Murphy said it is important that the agencies involved know people care about the issue.
She added there is a petition — online at ColumbiaRiverKeeper.org — they can sign to demand a swift and thorough cleanup of the site.
“People really deserve clean water and healthy fish that they can safely feed to their families,” said Murphy. “And the toxic legacy at Bonneville Dam must be addressed.”
