Massachusetts

Invasive Algae found in Massachusetts' Westfield River West Branch

The presence of the freshwater algae Didymosphenia geminata (a.k.a Didymo or "rock snot") was recently observed by Dr. Caleb Slater, a fisheries biologist with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) during routine fisheries sampling on August 31, 2015 in the West Branch of the Westfield River in the town of Chester in Hampden County. DFW collected samples and made the preliminary identification which was confirmed by independent experts on September 2.