Didymo Information provided by the
Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Please help us in our efforts to prevent the
spread of Didymo.
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Didymo hasn't been reported, here in Maine but it is close.
We, the Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, hope
to keep it out
of Maine.
Once Didymo enters a watershed it is there forever.
Prevention is
paramount.
Don't assume it isn't there just because it hasn't been
reported.
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If you move from one watershed or even upstream in the same watershed
you should treat your gear to prevent the spread of Didymo.
Below are
links to three videos that show methods for cleaning your gear.
Please use one of them between watersheds.
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Freezing
(easy at home) |
Personal Washing Station
(most portable) |
Hot Water
(requires boiling) |
Other methods will work and
DRYING
is one of the easiest.
If drying is the method you choose remember
that felt soles can take weeks to dry in cool, damp weather sometimes
even longer. |
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Didymo is a microscopic pest that can be spread by a single drop of
water. Even if you can't see it you could be spreading it. Therefore to
prevent the spread of didymo you must Check Clean, Dry your gear when
going from one waterway to another no matter where you are or what
watersheds you are fishing.
Remember just because it hasn't been recorded doesn't mean it isn't
there.
Didymo sometimes forms massive blooms on the bottom of the streams,
rivers and lakes. It attaches itself to the stream bed by stalks, and
can form a thick brown layer that smothers rocks, submerged plants and
other materials. It forms flowing 'rats tails' that can turn white at
their ends and look similar to tissue paper. As the 'tails' of the alga
get longer they become white in colour.
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Didymo is a member of the group of single-celled aquatic plants
(freshwater algae) known as diatoms. Although it is microscopic, didymo
can form dense colonies called algal blooms which can be seen with the
naked eye.
Diatoms are unique in that their cell walls contain silica (a
major element in sand), which is why didymo feels gritty when touched.
Didymo also contains chlorophyll, a pigment which enables it to make its
own food by using energy from the sun.
Under optimum growing conditions,
didymo cells ooze large amounts of a mucus-like substance (mucilage)
which attaches didymo firmly to underwater surfaces. Young colonies look
like raised pimples on the surfaces of river rocks, but as the mucilage
elongates to form stalks, the colonies form impenetrable mats which form
thick strands and can cover all surfaces, including other plants, logs
and debris.
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Fishing footwear containing absorbent material, such as
shoe laces, felt-soled waders and boots, poses a high risk of didymo
transfer—these items are likely to come into direct physical
contact with didymo cells (e.g., stepping on or brushing against
algal mats), and the moisture retained in these goods helps cell
survival.
If cleaning or drying is not practical, restrict
equipment to a single waterway.
NOTE: The thicker and denser the material, the better it will be
at holding moisture (and live cells), the slower it will be to
dry out and the more difficult it will be to soak completely
with cleaning solutions.
Choose one of the following treatments specific to felt-soled
waders and boots:
Hot water:
If hot water alone is used, careful attention
is needed to ensure the temperature of the water is maintained
at no less that 45 °C for 40 minutes to ensure the interior of
the felt reaches a sufficient temperature to kill all cells;
OR
Hot water and detergent: (click link to watch video) The
entire felt sole and boot needs to be completely immersed for 30
minutes in hot tap water kept above 45 °C (uncomfortably hot to
touch) containing 5% dishwashing detergent or diaper cleaner;
OR
Saltwater Soak
in a Personal Washing Station: A 5-gallon pail makes a
great Personal Washing Station for your gear. Mix a 5% saltwater
solution by adding 3-cups of salt to 4-gallons of water.
The entire felt sole and boot needs to be completely immersed
for 3 minutes. Waders should be dunked repeatedly to assure
saltwater comes in contact with all areas of the wader that were
wetted while wading. Wader belts should be soaked with the
boots. The soles of Bootfoot waders should be soaked for 3
minutes before dunking the upper parts of the waders.
OR
Freeze until solid: (click link to watch video)
The time required until the boot is frozen solid will vary
depending upon the grade of material, how much moisture it
contains and the efficiency of the freezer. Freezing overnight
should work in most instances.
OR
Drying fully: Relying on ambient drying as a stand-alone
treatment for decontaminating highly absorbent, high risk goods such
as felt-soled waders and boots is not recommended in situations
where use between waterways is frequent (daily, weekly or even
monthly).
Drying should only be relied upon as a decontamination
treatment if great care is taken to actively and completely dry
the felt (such as by using a heat source where temperatures
around the felt are assured of reaching 30 °C). Once the felt
appears dry, complete dryness must be confirmed by a tactile
inspection of the felt pile to the base of the fibers. Once
completely dry, items must remain dry for at least 48 hours
before use in another waterway.
These instructions for decontaminating felt soled waders and
boots can be used for other absorbent materials.
If you do not want to decontaminate your gear, you should
restrict use to a single waterway.
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Jet
boats jet skis, and outboard motor boats
All boats and trailers should be cleaned thoroughly
both inside and out for at least one minute with decontamination
solution.
In addition, special attention should be given to the following
components:
Jet boat grate: Manually remove visible clumps of algae
from the grate and flush the system with a decontamination
solution.
Jet unit: Open ball value at bottom of sand trap, remove
any residue and flush system with a decontamination solution.
Outboard motor: The cooling system should be flushed out
with the decontamination solution for the specified time. It may
then be flushed again with clean fresh water that has come from
a town water supply.
Boat interior including anchor recess: Remove excessive
water by removing bungs and then wash interior with a
decontamination solution.
Bilge pump: Flush interior of boat with a decontamination
solution and then use the bilge pump to expel residual water
before bungs are opened. This ensures that the bilge pump is
flushed with the solution, and that residual water within the
pump will be free of live didymo cells.
Mats, carpet (including carpet on the trailer), anchor rope
and other absorbent components: thoroughly soak with
decontamination solution allowing extra time for the solution to
fully soak through the item.
Drying is an acceptable alternative method, provided that all
components are completely dry to the touch, inside and
out, and then left dry for at least another 48 hours before
entering a different waterway.
If you do not want to decontaminate your gear, you should
restrict use to a single waterway.
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Kayaks and
Other watercraft
Kayaks, canoes, dinghies and associated equipment and
gear should be cleaned thoroughly both inside and out with a
decontamination solution. Scrub or spray all exterior parts of
the craft with a decontamination solution, ensuring surface
contact for at least one minute. Then fill the interior of the
craft with the decontamination solution, place all associated
equipment, gear and clothing used in the boating activity into
the craft, immerse completely and soak for as long as needed to
thoroughly penetrate all absorbent items.
The equipment may then be rinsed using water that has come from
a town water supply.
Drying is an acceptable alternative method, provided that all
components are completely dry to the touch, inside and
out, and then left dry for at least another 48 hours before
entering a different waterway.
Freezing small items is another option.
If you do not want to decontaminate your gear, you should
restrict use to a single waterway.
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Pets
Pets should be soaked, and then washed for
not less than one minute with a suitable animal
disinfectant or shampoo. They may then be rinsed using
water that has come from a town water supply.
Alternatively, thoroughly dry your pets then contain for
not less than 48 hours before they are allowed into
another waterway.
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