Removal of a small hydropower dam, opening fish migration and restoring the natural flows of the river.
Constructed in 1958, the dam was originally used to generate electricity for the farm at Ytri-Hraundalur. Like many small hydroelectric stations built in the early 20th century it has not been used for decades.
Following a previous barrier identification and prioritisation grant, the Ytri-Hraundalur hydropower dam on the Melsá River will be removed. The dam is the only barrier along the river’s course from its source to the sea, and its removal will restore natural flow to almost 3 km of river upstream.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Iceland |
| River | Melsá |
| Removal date | December 2025 |
| Km to be opened | 2.55 km |
| Focal species | Trout and Atlantic Salmon |
| Organisation | Fuglavernd / BirdLife Iceland |
| Website | Fuglavernd / BirdLife Iceland |
The dam is preventing sea trout and Atlantic salmon migration, and removing it will increase spawning and juvenile habitat for these species, which are also economically important in the region.
The nature-based approach being applied in this project is rapidly gaining international recognition as best practice for environmental management. A specific design approach, based on best practice developed in similar environments, will be used where appropriate to the site. Given the unique character of the location where the work will take place, the project offers a significant opportunity to further advance knowledge on managing these types of issues in sensitive and important ecosystems.
The obsolete dam will be removed, opening fish migration and restoring the natural flow of the river. The dam currently block migration for sea trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar); removing it will increase spawning and juvenile habitat for these species.
This project could serve as a model for similar initiatives to revitalise rivers affected by obsolete infrastructure across Iceland.
Fuglavernd’s objective with this project was to restore the river’s catchment area for birds and fish and to enable sea trout to travel upstream.
The barrier was an old hydropower dam that had not been in use for decades. An electrofishing survey conducted before its removal showed no juvenile salmon or trout upstream of the dam. Water flow was measured before and after the project, and care was taken to prevent erosion of the riverbanks following the dam’s removal.
The removal project proceeded successfully, with only minor delays caused by heavy rainfall, and it was necessary to wait for frost to allow heavy machinery to access the site. In partnership with Land and Forest, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the dam was completely removed in December 2025. Specialists from the Scottish company CBEC, which specialises in nature-based solutions for river restoration, were also engaged. It was surprising how much concrete had to be removed, discovered beneath the turf embankment extending from the dam. Ultimately, the project enabled the reconnection of 2.55 km of river upstream.
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