DIDYMO Didymosphenia geminata

As most anglers know the use of felt sole boots will be ban in Missouri on 3/1/12. The reason is DIDYMO. The following in this blog is an exclamation on what it is and how it spreads.
Native To: Northern Europe and northern North America (Vancouver Island)

Date of U.S. Introduction: Was present in Canada in the late 1800s, but did not begin to cause problems until the early 1990s. It was present in the rivers of the Western U.S. by 2004, and it was first discovered east of the Mississippi River in 2005 in Tennessee.
Means of Introduction: Exact pathway unknown, but it spreads easily through contaminated boats and fishing gear
Impact: Can result in dense algal blooms that block sunlight and disrupt ecological processes, causing a decline in native plant and animal life
Current U.S. Distribution: Scattered populations exist throughout the United States, including New England, the Mid-Atlantic Region, and the Western U.S.

What other States are finding Out

Didymosphenia geminata, an algal species historically inhabiting clear, low-nutrient streams, appears to be expanding its geographic range and broadening its environmental tolerances. This diatom , commonly known as “Didymo,” was recently identified as an invasive species in New Zealand - the first confirmed record in the southern hemisphere.  In the United States, nuisance blooms of Didymosphenia geminata are increasingly reported by the public and media. Nuisance blooms have been observed in Rapid Creek since May 2002 with the greatest mat densities observed near Johnson Siding

A stream assessment was conducted to determine the impact of D. geminata blooms on the benthic organisms in Rapid Creek.  Biological and water quality samples were collected monthly from May through October 2005 and 2006 at five monitoring sites located between Pactola Reservoir and Canyon Lake   Monitoring is also being conducted in May, August, and October 2007 and is scheduled to resume again in May 2008.

A DENR bioassessment report“lts and analysis of the water quality and biological monitoring conducted in 2005 and 2006. This report indicates that nuisance blooms of D. geminata have likely altered the taxonomic composition of benthic macroinvertebrate and algal communities in Rapid Creek.

What’s didymo?

It’s a microscopic alga known as a diatom that’s invading our rivers and streams. Didymosphenia geminata, also known as ‘rock snot’ or ‘didymo’, can smother entire stream beds with mats as thick as eight inches and can ruin just about any river or creek.

What does it look like?

Didymo can be found on rocks in moving water and is often mistaken for fiberglass or toilet tissue. Unlike most other algae, didymo feels like wet cotton and isn’t slimy. It is generally brown, tan or yellow in color.

Where is it?

The white River in Arkansas is the closest it is to us.  The following is the Missouri Conservation link to all the information you will need to know.

http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-bans-porous-soled-waders-help-protect-trout-waters-invasive-algae

Be sure to be informed because we don't need this in the Current or any of our trout streams.