Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2013 - 57

CURRENTS
State Agencies Issue Alert to Contain Invasive Species
in Lycoming County
After confirming the presence of the invasive aquatic
algae known as didymo, or “rock snot,” in Pine Creek,
Lycoming County, anglers and boaters are reminded that
cleaning their gear is the easiest, most effective means of
preventing its spread to other waters.
“Our biologists have not seen any evidence of a full
bloom of didymo in the creek or nearby waterways,” said
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Acting Secretary Christopher Abruzzo. “This
algae does not present a public health risk, but there is an
ecological concern in terms of its future potential impact
on the health of the waterway.”
In late June, DEP biologists were conducting routine
stream monitoring in Pine Creek upstream of Waterville in
the vicinity of the Hamilton Bottom Canoe Access Area, a
popular recreational destination. Laboratory analysis of a
sample collected using an algal net detected the presence
of didymo in the form of microscopic diatoms, a finding
confirmed by the National Academy of Sciences.
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC)
continues to urge anglers and boaters to take steps to
prevent the spread of the algae.
“We may not be able to eliminate didymo from an
infected waterway, but there are easy steps we can take to
slow its spread and to prevent it from spreading to other
waters,” said PFBC Executive Director John A. Arway.
“Didymo cells can easily be carried downstream and
can be picked up by any items which come in contact with
the infected water, including fishing tackle, waders, and
boats and trailers. We urge anglers and boaters to ‘Clean
Your Gear!’ before leaving a water body and entering
another one.”
The discovery of the algae in a popular recreational
area potentially increases the risk of its movement to other
waters in Pennsylvania.
“Flowing through the heart of Tiadaghton State Forest,
Pine Creek and its parallel trail are increasingly popular with
anglers, boaters, hikers and other Pennsylvania residents and
visitors,” said Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti. “The

discovery of didymo has no immediate impact to the visitor
experience on or along Pine Creek, but we ask all to remain
vigilant in an effort to protect this invaluable waterway and
other streams and rivers,” said Ferretti.
Prior to detecting didymo in Pine Creek, the alga was
found in the Youghiogheny River watershed in Fayette
County, in the West Branch and main stem of the Delaware
River and in Dyberry Creek in Wayne County.
The PFBC recommends that anglers allow exposed
equipment to completely dry before entering new waters.
After equipment is dry to the touch, allow it to dry another
48 hours. Thick and dense material, such as life jackets
and 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 2½ gallons of water) for 20
minutes or more will also kill didymo and some other
aquatic invasive species.
Cleaning boats and equipment with hot water
(maintained at 140 degrees F) by pressure washing or
soaking is another effective method. 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, please restrict the equipment’s use to a
single waterway.
Didymo is not 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.
The algae, whose scientific name is “Didymosphenia
geminata,” has colloquially been called “rock snot” because
of its appearance. When squeezed nearly dry, the algae,
generally tan to beige in color, actually has the feel of moist
cotton or wool.
For more details on how to stop the spread of didymo,
visit www.fishandboat.com/water/habitat/ans/didymo/
faq_didymo.htm. For more information on how to clean
your gear, visit www.fishandboat.com/cleanyourgear.htm.

http://www.fishandboat.com/didymo-poster.pdf
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • September/October 2013

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http://www.fishandboat.com/water/habitat/ans/didymo/faq_didymo.htm http://www.fishandboat.com/water/habitat/ans/didymo/faq_didymo.htm http://www.fishandboat.com/cleanyourgear.htm http://www.ProtectYourWaters.net http://www.fishandboat.com/AIS.htm http://www.fishandboat.com/didymo-poster.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2013

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