Rock Snot in a New Waterway

[salvelinusfontinalis]

link

If you fish there. Be aware.

 

[rrt]

Even though I don't fish there, I am sorry to see this. I hope somehow somebody figures out a way to eradicate this stuff.

 

[tomgamber]

I've fished the reservoir from the yak. Not the creek. Does it seem like the downstream side of reservoirs seem to have this more? Is that a thing and I'm late on that observation or is that not valid.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Not sure Tom but you may be on to something.
Downstream is likely warmer, especially after a lake, i would think this may cause more plant growth. Beyond that, downstream areas are often wider and less covered by shade causing sunlight "pollution". Which also could be a factor.

Just talking out my butt. I have no idea.

 

[ryansheehan]

salvelinusfontinalis wrote:
Not sure Tom but you may be on to something.
Downstream is likely warmer, especially after a lake, i would think this may cause more plant growth. Beyond that, downstream areas are often wider and less covered by shade causing sunlight "pollution". Which also could be a factor.

Just talking out my butt. I have no idea.

I've only seen the stuff bad on tailwaters close to the outflow. Once you get a few miles away the stuff normally breaks up and is gone. I always assumed it was the rise in tempature but maybe not.

 

[hendeylathe]

Here's a start. All you can do is keep your little corner of the world clean. I generally only fish Laurel Hill Creek & the Yough between Ramcat and Ohiopyle. I clean my gear after each outing regardless. It's just something I do. I can't control the ducks, the rafting industry, and just "Hole Hoppers" in general that may or may not spread this stuff.http://www.thisisflydaily.com/archives/5777

 

[redietz]

ryansheehan wrote:

I've only seen the stuff bad on tailwaters close to the outflow. Once you get a few miles away the stuff normally breaks up and is gone. I always assumed it was the rise in tempature but maybe not.

No, not temps. Something about the chemistry of the water below dams that causes a lack of green algae, which leaves an opening for didymo.

It's pretty much accepted by scientists that didymo is present in almost all flowing water in the area, but it only causes large blooms in tail waters. Spread by anglers is really not a factor. That's the big argument against banning felt soles, but ignores the fact that didymo isn't the only invasive.

 

[tomgamber]

ryansheehan wrote:



I've only seen the stuff bad on tailwaters close to the outflow. Once you get a few miles away the stuff normally breaks up and is gone. I always assumed it was the rise in tempature but maybe not.

Some of Ryan's previous post are exactly what I was thinking of when I asked that.

Redeitz, any idea what about the chemistry below dams makes this more common? Why does green algae not grow well in those areas? Must be something pretty specific.

 

[redietz]

tomgamber wrote:
any idea what about the chemistry below dams makes this more common? Why does green algae not grow well in those areas? Must be something pretty specific.

Lack of soluble phosphorus. Didymo loves that chemistry; all other algae hate it.

 

[MarkC]

On the Delaware tailwater, the rock snot works its way down river from the dams in the winter, early spring, then retreats upriver as the waters warm.

Mark C

 

[hendeylathe]

http://singlebarbed.com/2014/05/11/fossil-record-shows-didymo-geminata-is-native-rather-than-invasive/

 

[ryansheehan]

Thank God Maryland banned felt....and continues to do so.

 

[krayfish2]

Banning felt does nothing other than make you feel good. Quotes below from article and there are dozens more stating the same....


The latest science involving Didymo rethinks the “invasive” label, as examination of the fossil record of lakes and streams afflicted by the diatom are finding the Didymo has been resident on five of seven continents for many thousands of years.

The Delaware River shows Didymo having been present for tens of thousands of years, rather than recently introduced by fishermen. Dissolved Phosphorus can dip below its normal threshold via numerous temporal phenomena, and with that change in water chemistry, triggers the visual “blooms” that gives the infestation its characteristic unappealing blanket. As quickly as water chemistry is restored, the blooms vanish, explaining one of the great mysteries of Didymo infestation.

 

[ryansheehan]

I guess I should have used one of the those eye roll emojis. I was trying to lay the sarcasm on heavy but obviously I failed.

 

[larkmark]

I felt the sarcasm

 

[larkmark]

The sarcasm was felt deep in my sole and I may never heel