Maryland has banned felt and has wader cleaning stations at different locations along the river. The stations are tubs with scrub brushes hanging near for fast cleaning. The felt ban forced me to buy a pair of Simms wading boots with star cleats. Even though it was just Maryland who banned felt the ripple effect is I no longer wear felt in any other state. I like my star cleats better than felt.

Other than the cleaning stations I have never cleaned my boots or waders.

I have come up with a thought. I wonder if the fishing club I belong to can have a boot cleaning day which coincides with our monthly fly tying or rod building classes? Or better yet, invade the local pub in full river outfits to raise awareness and have them cleaned in a bar. Umm, anything for a drink.

Scientists have got to come up with the eradication not the angler washing his boots. Somewhere along the line there came a fork in the road, and commonsense went one way, and those advocating scrubbing down took the other path. Simms went back to selling felt, and our flyshop ran a good size ad in the local paper.."SIMMS FELT BACK IN STOCK!" I even called lodges in Alaska, and all of them said the ban on felt was a farce. And the rubber substitutes don't work, and have been severely criticized by those who bought them.

It's a crapshoot. What about non-anglers and their water shoes/sneakers? The bottom of a kayak, sandals, anything that touches the water can spread the algae.

It can't just be the industry and angler community stepping up to the plate. It starts with education and awareness, all of which needs to be directed to everyone that spends time in our waters for recreation.

One example: When a river trip outfitter (inner tubes, rafting, canoe etc.) gives their required safety speech to a party of rafters, include a 3 minute river stewardship talk that covers didymo, leave no trace/carry in-carry out, leaving stream banks alone etc. And yes, it needs to be required because outfitters don't and will not do it on their own. They could care less. Living near the Upper Delaware, I see the neglect and ignorance all the time.

I have not seen any official boot cleaning stations on the streams I fish in VA. The DGIF does mention it on its website, but the areas I tend to visit are headwaters, rather far off the beaten path, and probably even more prone to "rock snot" given their limited flows. All of the guys I fish with have abandoned felt( not only for didymo, but it doesn't hold up well to a 3 mile hike into the national forest.) The only cleaning station I have seen was set up by other anglers in a common parking area in the national forest. Just proof that awareness is key.

That's a good point, buckhunter. Well, they can leave the didymo part out of their river stewardship segment.

There's also kayak/canoeing organizations and clubs that will hit many different bodies of water in a season. It might take a state agency and that industry sector to collaborate on educational outreach. Especially with kayaking as a "sport" growing in popularity. There's certainly no downside to spreading the good word about individuals doing their part to care for our waters. But who knows, maybe they're already part of the discussion. I have no idea.

Didn't mention my discussion with the TU project manager about rock snot.....good to wash your boots with 409 IF your water has a known problem, and you will be headed off to fish another water. OK, I'll buy that.