Rock Snot spreads across Lake Champlain watershed

“Rock snot” is the slang term for didymo, an invasive algae that moves through rivers and lakes, choking out native species.

It’s very slick (hence the slang term) and it can be devastating for areas where water is a mainstay of the economy, like the Adirondack North Country.

Our waters draw lots of tourists and seasonal residents, but an infestation of “rock snot” could put a big ding in that. So it’s worrisome to see that didymo is spreading in the Lake Champlain watershed.

This came across the AP wire today:

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources says an invasive type of algae known as rock snot is continuing to spread throughout the state.

Scientists say the algae also known as didymo has been found in the Gihon River in East Johnson.

It’s the second time the invasive plant has been found in the Lake Champlain basin and the first time in the Lamoille River basin.

Didymo has the potential to carpet a stream bottom several inches thick.

Didymo was first found in the Northeastern U.S. in 2006.

Scientists say once didymo is found it can’t be controlled or eradicated.

Officials urge recreational water users to remove algae from anything that goes in the water before going from one body of water to another.