Alarmed by reports about an invasive algae found in the Connecticut River, biologists from Vermont and New Hampshire will meet tomorrow with representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and river groups to make plans for combatting it, authorities said yesterday. At issue is the spread of Didymosphenia geminata, also known as didymo and "rock snot," which has been found in two locations of the White River and in northern reaches of the Connecticut River, which separates Vermont and New Hampshire.
- The microscopic algae result in thick mats on river and stream bottoms in infested waters. The algae can stick to fishing gear, boats and boots and can live in car trunks for weeks. There is no known treatment. "As didymo's presence in Vermont's waters has been confirmed, it is imperative that scientists and experts from across the region come up with a way to prevent its further spread in our waterways," Vermont Natural Resources Secretary George Crombie said.
- A fishing guide who found evidence of it in the Connecticut River says it could spell doom for Vermont's wild trout. "It will destroy the aquatic insect population and in turn will destroy the wild trout population because there will be nothing to feed on." (AP Story from the Concord Monitor).
- above photo from "Mysterious alga threatens rivers (in both hemispheres)" published by the Christian Science Monitor
Alarmed by reports about an invasive algae found in the Connecticut River, biologists from Vermont and New Hampshire will meet tomorrow with representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and river groups to make plans for combatting it, authorities said yesterday. At issue is the spread of Didymosphenia geminata, also known as didymo and "rock snot," which has been found in two locations of the White River and in northern reaches of the Connecticut River, which separates Vermont and New Hampshire.
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