The spring of 2007 saw the outbreak of the invasive algae known as Didymososphenia - AKA Didymo or Rock Snot. This is nasty stuff that can devastate great fishing waters.

Didymo has been spotted in the upper reaches of the Connecticut River - prime trout fishing waters. Other outbreaks of didymo have been found in the White River near Bethel, Vermont.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), didymo is the only freshwater algae to exhibit large scale invasive behavior. The algae can be responsible for large blooms of growth that form a thick mat of cottony material on the stream and river bottoms. These mats of didymo can suffocate other aquatic plants and obliterate fish habitat.

New Hampshire biologists are extemely concerned and are taking the threat of the spread of didymo very seriously. To assist in helping to stop the spread of Didymo read the following:

If you see Didymo - please report it to a local fish and game department or officer.

If you are fishing in waters where Didymo is present you must:

• Check Your Self and Your Equipment: Before leaving the river, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the affected site. If you find any later, do not wash them down drains. Treat them with cleaning solutions, dry them and put them in a rubbish bin.
• Clean: Soak and scrub all items for at least one minute in either hot water, a two percent solution of household bleach or a five percent solution of salt, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing detergent.
• Dry: If cleaning is not practical (i.e. livestock), after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.

Under no circumstances should water, fish, rocks, plants or other items be moved from an affected waterway to an unaffected waterway. Didymo was discovered in New Zealand in 2004, and within 18 months, it had spread to 12 rivers on the South Island, forming nuisance blooms at several locations.

Didymo has become a major environmental problem in New Zealand - let's all work together to help prevent the spread of this nasty algae here in New England.

- Rick Rock
for Northern New England.com