Canterbury DOC on didymo patrol this summer

Date:  20 December 2007

With a hot dry summer on the way, holidaymakers flocking to Canterbury rivers and lakes are likely to run into DOC didymo rangers.

The didymo rangers will be patrolling waterways this summer to remind people to Check, Clean, Dry at all times to help prevent the spread of didymo.

Didymo rangers like Leslie Jensen will be handing out spray bottles and providing advice on how to decontaminate gear properly for didymo.

“It’s crucial that we all remember to Check, Clean, Dry before leaving a waterway,” says Leslie.

“Decontaminating gear such as fishing rods is reasonably easy to do by spraying it with an appropriate decontamination solution. The solution must be in contact with the item for at least one minute before it can be rinsed off”.

“Things like footwear and waders need a bit more time set aside for decontamination,” says Leslie.

“As these items can hold water, it’s important to ensure that they are decontaminated thoroughly to kill any didymo cells present.”

There are several ways of decontaminating absorbent items. They include:

• soaking the item in hot water which is kept above 45oC for at least 45 minutes.
• adding 5 % dishwashing liquid or nappy cleaner to hot water kept above 45oC and soaking the item for at least 30 minutes.
• freezing the item until solid 
• drying the item until it is completely dry to touch and then leave for a further 48 hours before use in another waterway.

Another key action people can take to help prevent didymo spread is to use bridges to cross waterways instead of fords where ever possible.

A single cell of didymo is microscopic, so it is hard to tell if didymo is in a waterway until the cells group together to form colonies. The didymo rangers are encouraging waterway users to treat each waterway as if it may have didymo and therefore decontaminate all gear.