A very rich salmon, trout and eel river in southwest Sweden will be re opened again by removing the blocking stone construction that dams the river.
River Örekilsälven is one of southern Sweden’s best salmon waters. Here dwells salmon, trout, eel, lamprey and a number of other fish species. The first barrier from the ocean is the discontinued hydropower station (HPP), Torp. The Swedish government will remove HPP Torp, opening up 8 kilometres. Upstream of Torp is Lilla Röd; when this dam is removed, the Örekilsälven River will be entirely free-flowing again!
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Sweden |
| River | Örekilsälven |
| Removal date | Summer 2024 |
| Km to be opened | 61 km |
| Focal species | Salmon, lamprey, eel, brown trout |
| Organisation | Sportfiskarna |
| Website | Sportfiskarna |
This is a unique opportunity for migrating fish in the river, like salmon, trout, eel, lamprey and a number of other species. The removal will also benefit many bird species since a 600-metre stream habitat will be created when the still water is reverted back to what it once was. Örekilsälven is famous for its salmon population, and the downstream existing Natura 2000 area will also benefit from the removal.
A blocking dam in the River Örekilsälven will be removed. The stones were originally taken from the upstream area, so returning them there is the most cost-efficient and ecosystem-friendly way of using the stones in the dam. The removal will open up a river that is rich in biodiversity, enhancing the possibilities for the water body to reach good ecological status.
The project to open Örekilsälven at Lilla Röd focused on removing the stone barrier that blocked the migration of fish in Örekilsälven. The barrier was removed during conditions of low flow in the Summer of 2024. This opened up the possibility for the river’s many fish species to follow their ancient migration routes upstream as well as downstream. The removal created a stream habitat that is suitable for spawning of fish species such as trout and salmon, and this habitat is also suitable for bird species as well as insects and bats. The river is located in an area with low population density, and the creation of stream habitats will benefit the overall wild area – in fact, a lynx was observed during the removal of the dam, indicating the areas wilderness.
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