"SNOT" on the Green River

[jlibs]

Possible bad news...I reported to the State.

I went out to wet a line on the Green River down here in South County late yesterday and saw an aweful bloom of algae all over the place in the water. Earlier in the season, I observed what I thought was brown silt-like sediment on many of the free stones/pebbles (which was unusual) that make up the river bottom on the Green River, but I was wrong. That stuff was an early stage of algae. Now it's blooming.

One of our other members had mentioned a website and other info (including the name which I don't recall) regarding what this stuff may be. It's invading the White river and other important rivers in VT and in other places.

What's the name and other info on this? Please report and post if you observe this.

JLIBS

[jskowron]

The algae invading VT is called didymo. It has been very damagin in New Zealand and has started to show up in New England. The only real way to control it is through preventing its spread. Check out www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/exoticspecies/didymo/index.htmfor pics and more info, including wader/boots cleaning instruction. It is crucial that waders and other materials be cleaned between trips, especially if you're switching streams. Though it's inconvenient to soak your wading gear, it's a better option than a river full of "rock snot."

[dw]

Didymo feels like wet wool and looks like wet toilet paper. In Vermont it was found in the White in Stockbridge, Bethel and Royalton as well as the Connecticut River in Bloomfield, Vermont. It likes stable flows, neutral range PH, sunlight and low nutrient water.