The invasive species of algae known as Didymo has been discovered in two more popular
The slimy, fibrous material commonly referred to as "rock snot" was originally found on the
"After that came out after the first of July we started getting calls and reports from anglers saying they thought they saw rock snot in different places," said Mike Shingleton, Chief of Coldwater Fisheries for the DNR.
Among those places was Glady and Gandy. Shingleton said samples were collected and sent to a lab for testing where it was confirmed to be the invasive algae.
The material grows in large mats in cooler streams and in abundance can threaten the ecological makeup of a stream.
"We don’t have quite that problem," said Shingleton. "If it would cover the entire bottom it would have an impact and could have an adverse impact on the species diversity that’s found in the streams."
Biologists say realistically there’s no way to stop Didymo once it’s rooted in a stream. They say the best way to deal with the problem is to try and stop the spread. The algae is spread largely on the fishing tackle and gear of anglers. One of the worst culprits of carrying the Didymo spores is felt soled waders or wading boots. The DNR advises fishermen to thoroughly inspect and clean all tackle, including roads, reels, line, and lures after every fishing trip. It’s also advised that all waders be thoroughly cleaned with a mild soap solution and allowed to dry. Soaking the boots of waders in a saltwater solution or mild bleach will also kill the spores that spread the algae.