Removing two impassable culverts on the Vildoga River to restore 25 kilometres of migrating fish habitat, enhance ecological continuity, and boost public awareness and stakeholder cooperation in river restoration.
Following a previous Programme-supported barrier identification grant, this project focuses on the Vildoga River, a tributary within the Gauja River basin in Latvia. This area holds ecological significance due to its importance for salmonid species, which depend on free-flowing rivers for their life cycles. The Gauja River basin is one of the four largest in Latvia, renowned for its diverse habitats that support a wide range of flora and fauna.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Latvia |
| River | Vildoga |
| Removal date | Spring 2025 |
| Km opened | 25 km |
| Focal species | Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, European grayling and lamprey |
| Organisation | WWF Latvia/Pasaules Dabas Fonds |
| Website | WWF Latvia/Pasaules Dabas Fonds |
We must address the fragmented state of Latvia’s river systems caused by outdated culverts. The Vildoga River, within the Gauja River basin, contains two significant barriers that prevent the natural migration of salmonid species. Successfully implementing this project will contribute to achieving 36% of Latvia’s national target for free-flowing rivers, serve as a model for similar initiatives, and enhance stakeholder understanding and cooperation in river restoration efforts.
This project will open up approximately 25 kilometres of habitat crucial for salmonid species, supporting their migration and breeding. Additionally, the project aims to enhance stakeholder cooperation and understanding of river restoration by involving local communities, the Nature Conservation Agency, and the National Road Authority. It also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of free-flowing rivers and healthy freshwater habitats, aiming to reach at least 100,000 people through various communication activities.
The project reached its goals and completed all the activities as planned. While the weather conditions and some permitting issues slightly delayed the removal, the project was still carried out as expected without extending the overall project timeline.
The reconstruction of the two problematic culverts has opened up the entire Vildoga river to fish migration. It has opened up around 25 km of the river upstream, including its tributaries.
According to the monitoring done in 2025, there was no longer higher fish concentration just below the culverts, as the fish were able to move up the river and spread themselves out more evenly across the entire river. The project also resulted in quite significant media coverage helping to spread awareness of dam removal and the importance of free-flowing rivers.
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