Above: The Schoharie Creek in Lexington, where the USGS recently found the invasive algae Didymosphenia geminata, also known as "rock snot." Photo by Flickr user Doug Kerr; published under Creative Commons license.

The invasive alga known as "rock snot" continues its march into Catskills trout streams. Today, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced that Didymosphenia geminata has been found in the Schoharie Creek near Lexington. From a DEC press release:

Samples taken by the U.S. Geological Survey and examined by DEC have confirmed that didymo is present in the Schoharie Creek about 1.8 miles east (upstream) of the hamlet of Lexington. This is the latest recorded incident of this aquatic nuisance species, also called "rock snot,” in New York State.

On a clear day, you can see for miles. Christopher Mooney took this shot from atop the fire tower on Mt. Utsayantha in Stamford, looking out over the northwestern edge of the Catskills.

In the early twentieth century, Utsayantha's spectacular view -- and the tragic legend of the Indian princess it was named for -- were a major tourist draw, bringing thousands of picnickers and sightseers to the little village of Stamford every summer. By the 1970s, though, the park atop Utsayantha had fallen into disrepair, and in 1989 the state closed the fire tower. The tower was restored and reopened in 2005, thanks to private donations.

Photo shared in the Watershed Post's Flickr group pool.

A flash flood watch is in effect across Eastern New York this morning, including Greene, Schoharie and Ulster counties:

Through Sunday Morning * Showers And Embedded Thunderstorms Will Become More Numerous Across Much Of Eastern New York And Adjacent Western New England Later This Morning And Continue Through Much Of Tonight Before Diminishing Late Tonight And Sunday Morning. The Combination Of A Warm And Very Humid Airmass In Place Across Our Region...A Slow Moving Upper Level Disturbance Drifting East From The Eastern Great Lakes...And Weak Wind Fields In The Low To Mid Levels Of The Atmosphere Will Result In Showers And Thunderstorms With Very Heavy Rain...Which Are Likely To Move Very Slowly And Even Back Build.

This just in via email from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office:

Per Steve Finch, Delaware County 911 Coordinator:

Hancock Telephone Company is experiencing a long distance telephone outage at this time.

Incoming and Outgoing long distance service is interrupted.

Emergency 911 calls will be answered by the Hancock Fire Department Station.

Richard Kelly, Dispatcher, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office

280 Phoebe Lane

Delhi, NY 13753

607-746-2336

7/26/12  20:26 hours

Update: All service was restored on 7/27.