Trout Tails - July 8, 2013

Its been a while since I've posted.  Been busy floating and chasing brookies and have not had a chance to download photos, but I needed to get this out ASAP!  Remember to clean your gear!  This really sucks!!

Announcement: First record of the invasive diatom Didymosphenia geminata in the Pine Creek watershed, Lycoming County PA.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Biologists have, as a result of routine monitoring, detected the presence of the invasive diatom Didymosphenia geminata, also known as Didymo, in the Pine Creek watershed, Lycoming County PA.  Representative specimens were sent to The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University where Dr. Marina Potapova confirmed DEP’s identification.

Living Didymo diatoms were obtained on June 18, 2013 from Pine Creek at a location upstream of Waterville in the vicinity of the Hamilton Bottom Canoe Access Area; Lycoming County.  This represents the first evidence of this invasive diatom in this watershed.  In fact, prior to this discovery no Didymosphenia geminata diatoms were known by DEP to exist in Pennsylvania waters except at verified infestations sites in the Youghiogheny River and the West Brach/mainstem of the Delaware Rivers. 

All Water Quality professionals should take precautions against spreading Didymo by properly cleaning and disinfecting aquatic gear prior to working in other waters. For more information, please visit PA Fish & Boat Commission website for a fact sheet and further guidance at: http://www.fishandboat.com/water/habitat/ans/didymo/faq_didymo.htm