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David J. Herfindahl,
M.D.
806 South Main Street
Mt. Shasta Office
Public
Health
Director
Yreka, CA 96097-3321
101 Siskiyou
Ave.
E-mail:
Drherf@co.siskiyou.ca.us
TELEPHONE (530) 841-4040
Mt. Shasta, CA
96067-2500
www.co.siskiyou.ca.us
Fax (530) 841-4076
Telephone (530)
926-4588
March 9, 2007
To: Charlene Walden
From: Terry Barber (Terry
Barber is head of the joint Planning and Environmental Health Dept. of
Siskiyou County. She is specialist in environmental health.)
During our conversation
of March 9, 2006, you indicated that a Mid-Klamath grass roots
organization is aware of data discrepancies that were discovered with
Copco Lake Irongate Reservoir sampling efforts that have occurred over
the past three years. You requested information and clarification on
the problem and any process that are in place to remedy the
discrepancy.
Siskiyou County Public
Health Department has consistently expressed its concerns about algae
sampling due to the lack of approved and standardized laboratory
methods.
In November 2006, the
County Health Department was informed that split samples analyzed by
Wright State University and UC Davis were significantly different.
While the Wright State University Lab is no longer in operation,
extensive efforts to explain the discrepancy have been taken by State
and Federal agencies. The investigation revealed that the
discrepancies are caused by the lack of standardized lab methodologies
and availability of ‘lab standards’ or known concentrations of
microcystin. Lab standards are needed to ensure the data quality and
accuracy.
It is my understanding
that the identified discrepancies associated with the existing data
will not be described on the data website or published reports.
It should be noted that,
local, state and federal agencies have acknowledged that any future
data produced is subject to similar discrepancies.
If there are any
further questions or concerns about the data, you may contact Trina
Mackie at 510-643-5141 or Email:
tmackie@berkeley.edu.
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