The expected outcomes are: one obsolete barrier removed, 112 km of Lăpuș River opened, improved habitat for fish species (e.g. streber, common chub, common nase, gudgeon) and other aquatic species (e.g. European crayfish and thick shelled river mussel).
Lăpuș River is the main right-hand tributary of the Someș River. With a length of 112 km and a drainage basin of 1,875 km², it originates in the Țibleș Mountains at the confluence of the Izvorul Alb (White Spring) and Izvorul Negru (Black Spring) branches. Its hydrographic basin defines, in its upper part, the boundaries of Țara Lăpușului, an ethnographic unit neighbouring historical Maramureș.
The Lăpuș Gorge is an epigenetic gorge considered unique in Romania due to its size and the types of rocks it develops in (crystalline schists with layers of limestone and metamorphosed dolomites). The gorge includes canyon-like sections (Vima Mică – Sălnița, Buteasa River – La Împreunătura) and features rocky ridges on its slopes (Custura Cetățelii, Custura Vimei), rocky walls and spurs, waterfalls (La Pișătoare), and caves.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: pre-demolition |
| Country | Romania |
| River | Lăpuș |
| Km to be opened | 92 km |
| Focal species | Streber, common chub, common nase, gudgeon |
| Organisation | WWF Romania |
Originally built to support the metallurgical industry, the dam is now obsolete, yet it continues to block the river. The Cătălina dam has created significant ecological and environmental challenges for the Lăpuș River ecosystem by obstructing the natural water flow, blocking the movement of fish and other aquatic species, preventing natural reproduction and replenishment across the river ecosystem, and degrading aquatic habitats.
This disruption extends to key Natura 2000 species, such as Lutra lutra, as it reduces its access to prey by limiting the replenishment of fish and other species in the upper sections of the Lăpuș River catchment (92 km upstream from the Cătălina dam).
The dam was listed as necessary to be removed in the Someș Tisza Management Plan 2022-2027. REMIN SA, currently in the process of insolvency, is the entity responsible for carrying out the necessary works for dam removal.
This project is a follow on from a previous identification and prioritisation grant from ORP.
The final aim of the project is to reopen the entire 112 km-long Lăpuș River in Romania by removing the Cătălina dam, an obsolete industrial water backup structure that has ceased to serve its original function.
The project’s team aims to complete all necessary steps before submitting a demolition proposal to the Open Rivers Programme. This includes preparing the technical design plans for dam removal, securing agreements with key stakeholders, and submitting the documentation required for permits to the relevant authorities.
With support from the Open Rivers Programme, WWF Romania successfully completed the pre-demolition phase for the proposed removal of the Cătălina Dam on the Lăpuș River, Romania. The dam is an obsolete industrial structure and the only major barrier on the river; its future removal would restore free-flowing connectivity along the entire 112 km length of the Lăpuș River.
The project delivered the preparatory activities required for the next implementation stage. Key achievements included completion of the feasibility study, technical design documentation, topographic, hydrological, geotechnical, biodiversity, and cost-benefit studies. Documentation was also prepared and submitted to competent authorities.
The grant also enabled strong stakeholder engagement and cooperation, establishing a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform supporting the review of technical options, clarification of legal pathways, and agreement on the next steps for implementation.
Once removed, the dam is expected to improve fish migration, restore natural river processes, reduce safety risks associated with the deteriorated structure, and benefit local communities.
The remaining challenge is the unresolved legal status of the dam under REMIN SA’s insolvency procedure. WWF Romania and partners will continue dialogue with stakeholders and seek funding to enable total removal of the barrier and full river restoration.
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