Saturday, September 29, 2007

Snake River Snot

The Jackson Hole Daily is reporting that didymo (Didymosphenia geminata, or "rock snot") has been discovered in the state of Wyoming. The discovery of the algae in Lake Creek was made by USGS researchers sampling tributaries of the Snake River this past summer. This is only the second sighting of the algae in Wyoming, the first being in the Popo Agie River in 2006 (see related article in this newsletter from the Lander Region Angler News). Unfortunately, a planned survey of the Snake River has been called off to river conditions. For now, the Snake River Fund has stepped up, working with the US Forest Service and with other non-governmental organizations to set up washing stations at boat ramps in the area. As there is currently no known way to eliminate didymo infestations, keeping it from spreading is the best tool they have for managing the invasive algae.

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