Didymo confirmed in hydro-power river

Power generation could be affected by the confirmation of rock snot in one of the South Island's main rivers.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research confirmed the presence of didymo in a sample taken from the Waitaki River yesterday.

Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay told the Otago Daily Times it was a very disturbing development and the company would be assessing its response.

Meridian had earlier expressed concern about the effects of didymo on hydro power generation.

Didymo was now very close to Meridian's hydro-electric lakes and it had the potential to limit power production.

The Waitaki river is popular with anglers, who are being urged to continue to check and clean their gear.

Even though it had been confirmed, Central South Island Fish and Game manager Jay Graybill said anglers still needed to continue to check, clean and dry their gear and vehicles.

"It's more important now than ever. We certainly don't want it to spread. While the long-term effects of how it would affect fisheries were still largely unknown, it had the potential to change the way people fished," he told the Otago Daily Times

"It was a personal choice for anglers to fish in didymo affected areas. If they did, they should not immediately move to a new area."

Didymo has been confirmed in several South Island rivers, but has not been found in the North Island.

- NZPA