Rock snot discovered in another Pennsylvania waterway – pennlive.com

Rock snot, an invasive aquatic alga, has been discovered in another Pennsylvania stream.

According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Didymospheria geminata has been confirmed in Quemahoning Creek in Somerset County.

The algae has been dubbed rock snot because of its appearance when wet. When squeezed dry, the tan to greenish beige alga feels like moist cotton or wool.

Didymo does not present a public health hazard, but it can cause ecological damage by smothering other organisms which also live on the riverbed and support the food web for the resident fish community.

In response to the discovery, the commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have reminded anglers and boaters that cleaning their gear is the easiest, most effective means to prevent its spread to other waters.

We may not be able to eliminate didymo from infected waterways, but there are things we can do to slow or prevent its spread to other waters, said Heather Smiles, chief of the commissions Division of Environmental Services.

Didymo cells can easily be carried downstream and can be picked up by any items or equipment in contact with infected water including fishing tackle, waders, recreational equipment, boats and trailers.

It takes just one live didymo cell to start a new colony of the alga.

The commission urges anglers and boaters to clean their gear before leaving a water body and allow it to dry completely before entering another water. After equipment is dry to the touch, allow to dry another 48 hours.

Thick and dense material such as life jackets or felt-soled wading gear will hold moisture longer, take longer to dry and can be more difficult to clean.

Soaking equipment in hot water containing dishwashing detergent (2 cups of detergent for every 2.5 gallons of water) for 20 minutes or more also will kill didymo. If hot water is not available, a commercial hot-water car wash also makes a good location to wash boats, motors and trailers.

At the other end of the temperature range, freezing items solid for at least 24 hours is effective.

If cleaning, drying or freezing is not practical, the commission suggests that the equipments use be limited to a single waterway.

The section of Quemahoning Creek where the alga was found provides fishing opportunities for stocked trout as well as warm-water and cool-water fish. The commission annually stocks fingerling brown and rainbow trout.

Since 2007 didymo has been detected in the West Branch and main stem of the Delaware River, Dyberry Creek in Wayne County, Youghiogheny River watershed in Fayette County and Pine Creek in Lycoming County.

Question about nature or the outdoors? Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.

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Rock snot discovered in another Pennsylvania waterway - pennlive.com