A good chance for free migration for fish in River Bode at Krottdorf!
photo: The weir at Krottdorf on River Bode
There's a good chance for another clear improvement of a fish migration route in River Bode ahead. River Bode, a tributary to River Saale in Sachsen-Anhalt, homes abundant fish stocks in numbers and species in certain stretches. After the tear-down of the weir at Oschersleben and the following conversion into a natural river, a speaker of the ministry in charge presented the prospect of also converting the installation at Krottdorf to a naturelike rough riverbed as "Die Volksstimme" reported after a meeting at the location. Present at the meeting were representatives of "Landesbetriebes für Hochwasserschutz und Wasserwirtschaft Sachsen-Anhalt (LHW)", "Wirtschaftsministeriums (MWL), "Umweltministeriums (MWU) von Sachsen-Anhalt", Angling Association Oschersleben and "IG Bodelachs". The deputy media-spokesman of the MWU, Robin Baake, presented the prospect of a revision of the planning permission of 2014. This would contain the conversion into a fully permeable riverbed. In this case the strictly protected brook lampreys would be able to pass the area of Krottdorf in both directions unimpededly.
photo: European brook lamprey
Please find mor information: Interessengemeinschaft Bode-Lachs e.V. - Ortstermine Holtemme und Krottorf
Hydropower and dam project at River Thjorsa in Iceand stopped!
River Thjorsa is a glacier river in the South of Iceland. Measuring 230km it is the longest river of the island. Average waterflow in summer amounts to 350 to 700 m³/s. River Thjorsa homes the largest of all Icelandic Salmon stocks. There's a dam and a hydropower plant already in the upper part of the river. Due to natural obstacles through this part of the river has never been accessible for salmon.
Already in 2000/2003 a first approach had been launched to build a huge dam and a hydropower plant in the lower part of River Thjorsa. At the time Orri Vigfussón in cooperation with Dr. Margaret Filardo of Columbia River/USA were able to successfully put a stop to the attempts. Now, after Orris passing, a new attempet to realize this large-scale project was started.
Dam project in the largest salmon river of Iceland
Spring 2023 the approval of only two River municipalities was missing to start construction work. The approval of the fisheries and the energy authorities had already been granted. The realization of this gigantic project would have severely damaged or even destroyed the largest stock of wild Atlantic Salmon in Iceland.
Fig: waterflow and upstream fish migration after building of the planned dam
The illustration shows the waterflows after the prospective dam construction. It also shows how salmon and other fish would have been misled and thereby suffering from a dramatic deterioration of the migration situation including respective losses. The projected downstream fish migration over the dam of 32m height with a completely insufficient installation for downstream migration would have caused huge fish losses according to experts assessments.
The dam reservoir would have deprived the river and the species living there of 6 km free flowing habitat. The transformation from river to still water regularily leads to significant losses of riverine fish species caused by fisheating birds and other predators.
Salmon Summit - Rejkjavik March 2023
On March 16th and 17th the NASF Iceland organized a salmon summit at Reykjavik. On the second day Stefan and Armin presented the activities of NASF Germany – Wanderfische ohne Grenzen e.V.
While many presentations were about the issue of "aquaculture in open net pens" we mainly reported our efforts to improve the permeability of fish migration routes in our rivers and to point out the harmful effects of hydropower for fish populations.
Right after our presentation Sif Konradsdottir, lawyer of the Icelandic nature conservation organization "Naturrugrid", contacted us. They were trying to stop the hydropower project on the Thjorsa and she led a class action against the approval of the project together with 9 other plaintiffs.
Our first reaction was that the newly construction of a dam with hydropower in the light of the EU Waterframework Directive in force could not be imagined.
Iceland being a EU membership aspirant was already adapting EU legislation.
We had stirred up hope and we assured every possible support in terms of relevant scientific studies and valuable contacts within our network.
Elvar Fredriksson and the NASF Iceand then focussed very quickly on public relations on this subject.
We then gathered in a virtual conference with Sif Konradsdottir, Snaebjörn Gudmundson (Naturrugrid), two owners of land and fishingrights on the River, Elvar Fredriksson, Stefan Ludwig und Armin Weinbrenner and sorted out how we could assist in this matter.
As a result we made contact to Ingebrigt Uklem of the NINA Institute in Trondheim/Norway.
The network sprang into action!
There were statements of the NINA Institute judging the probable consequences of the project for the river and the fish populations. Also from Margaret Filardo as a fish biologist being familiar with the issue and from Stefan and Armin.
The core message of all statements was identical: The project would dangerously threaten the stocks of wild salmon and other migratory species. A decline of stocks would have to be expected.
The NASF Iceland published the statements in the Icelandic press and TV.
(Link to statement of NASF Germany: https://www.visir.is/g/20232407508d/aetla-is-lendingar-ad-forna-sinum-laxa-stofnum-)
NASF Iceland had been extremely present on Google social media and finally was able to impact the public opinion in Iceland.
Approvals being withdrawn - the project is stopped!
6 hours after a representative of the last municipality had announced the missing approval with the words: „30 years of debate are behind us“, the office for "Environment and Natural Resources" allowed the complaint of the conservation organizations and withdrew the approval for the hydropower plant due to deficiencies related to the Water Framework Directive. In the effect all other approvals were also null and void.
A good day for the Salmon of Iceland
This project is off the table for now. Not necessarily for all times but preventing this dam from being built was a day to celebrate for all of us who regard nature and especially the stocks of wild Atlantic Salmon and other migratory fishes as an important concern not to say "a matter of the heart".
Above and beyound this procedure is an impressive example what national and international networking of people who often feel unheard in their struggle to save rivers and their endangered inhabitants is able to achieve.
A wonderful appreciation for the work of Orri Vigfussón who founded the network and whose vision has now yielded fruit.
