Didymo News

Didymo has been detected in Queenstown Bay in Lake Wakatipu, Biosecurity New Zealand and the Queenstown Lakes District Council announced in early February.

The organism has previously been detected in other parts of the lake and has been known to bloom on the fringes of lakes where there is sufficient wave action. Didymo has been found in other lakes fed by affected rivers. Four affected rivers flow into Lake Wakatipu. Its main impact is expected to be visual only, though there is obviously a risk of spread.

Considerable effort has gone into promoting the need for all freshwater users to ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ equipment between waterways, especially over the high use summer period, and that cleaning effort needs to continue regardless of perceived didymo risk. Further signage will be placed in high public use areas.

This highlights the sad reality of didymo that it can bloom on the shores of our lakes. Previously thought that the only habitat for blooming didymo was in clear fast flowing rivers.