Alarmed Connecticut environmental regulators are enlisting freshwater boaters and fishermen to avoid spreading an invasive algae that has shown up in a branch of the Farmington River, in Hartland and Barkhamsted.
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Tuesday announced that the highly invasive freshwater alga, Didymosphenia geminata, known as “didymo”, has been discovered in the river’s west branch, a very popular trout stream in northwestern Connecticut.
This is the first report of didymo in Connecticut.
“This find is very troubling,” said DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette. “Extensive blooms of this organism can harm the river ecosystem and decrease its recreational and economic value. ‘’
The presence of didymo was first confirmed in the northeastern United States in 2007, and has since spread to other popular trout streams in a number of northeastern states (New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia).
DEP said fisherman alerted the agency to the possible presence of didymo by presenting a sample. DEP sent the sample to Vermont, where biologists there confirmed that it was.
DEP investigators later surveyed a number of sites in the river and a major tributary along a seven-mile stretch of the Farmington River in Hartland and Barkhamsted. Numerous clumps of didymo were found at all the surveyed sites in the river downstream of the Riverton Bridge, the agency said.
To prevent the spread of didymo to additional waters, DEP asks that anglers, especially those who also fish the Farmington River or streams outside Connecticut, and other users practice these procedures.
· CHECK: Before leaving a river, stream or lake, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose of all material in the trash.
· CLEAN: Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other “hard” items for at least one minute in either very hot (140°F) water, a 2 percent bleach solution, or a 5 percent dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30 minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5 percent dishwashing detergent. Freezing thoroughly will also kill didymo.
· DRY: If cleaning is not practical, after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.
