ARLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – The state is plotting its next step in the war against rock snot, an aquatic algae that has infiltrated three of its rivers.

Environmental scientist Leslie Matthews of the state Agency of Natural Resources’ water quality division, who attended an international conference on the algae last month, said the state will likely continue its outreach efforts in hopes of stemming its spread.

“We were assured we were doing the best thing we could do,” Matthews said. “We were responding as other parts of the country have done to the discovery of didymo.”

Rock snot is the nickname for didymosphenia geminata, or didymo, an aggressive aquatic algae that was found this summer in the Connecticut, White and Batten Kill rivers in Vermont.

The algae, which has been found in New Zealand and the Rocky Mountain states, has the potential to bloom into thick masses with long stalks, blanketing the bottoms of some streams, threatening aquatic insect populations and possibly fish.

Fishermen, boaters and anyone else using the rivers are asked to remove all visible clumps from their gear, clothing, shoes and boats and to scrub boats and soak clothes, felt-soled waders and other items in hot water and soap for 30 minutes.