Advancing the removal of the Palokki dam to restore the natural flow of the rapids in Finland and revive critical salmonid habitats.
The Palokki rapids, located in the municipality of Heinävesi, once featured nine free-flowing rapids: Sahakoski, Kissakoski, Saunakoski, Hapatoskoski, Ala-Kallioinen, Lapinkoski, Multaväärä, Ylä-Kallioinen, and Niskakoski. In 1961, these rapids were dammed by the construction of the Nälönvirta hydropower dam. Its removal would reopen more than 1,500 kilometres of upstream river channels and expand downstream connectivity into Lake Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake system.
The Heinävesi water route, through which the river flows, is recognised as one of Finland’s 27 national landscapes, making the area not only ecologically important but also culturally and scenically significant.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: pre-demolition |
| Country | Finland |
| River | Palokki Rapids |
| Focal species | Brown trout, land-locked salmon |
| Organisation | Itä-Suomi Unioni ry, WWF Finland & Heinävesi Municipality |
| Website | Palokki Project |
Constructed to supply power to the now-closed Outokumpu copper mine, the Palokki dam has caused immense ecological damage, particularly to the highly endangered Brown trout and land-locked salmon by blocking migration routes and destroying vital spawning grounds. With the dam’s removal, natural breeding habitats could be restored, significantly improving the survival prospects of these species – something current fish stocking obligations fail to ensure.
Rewilding Palokki would also contribute substantially to Finland’s targets under the EU Biodiversity Strategy and EU Nature Restoration Law.
Moreover, the restored rapids would become a major driver for sustainable fishing and nature tourism in Eastern Finland, a region economically impacted by the closure of the eastern border. The Finnish government has acknowledged the significance of this opportunity by including the project in its programme and allocating €20 million towards its progress. However, further scientific evidence and public awareness are essential – hence the vital role of this pre-demolition phase.
According to a Fisheries Authority (POSELY) report, restoration efforts at Palokki could bring back up to 11 rapids – two more than originally present – along with an equal number of fry production habitats, covering 33-40 hectares. With a robust average water flow of 21 m³/s, the site has the potential to generate between 19,000 and 32,000 salmonid fry annually, re-establishing natural life cycles for both Brown trout and land-locked salmon throughout the Vuoksi basin.
Removing the Palokki dam would open up over 1,500 kilometres of upstream migration pathways, reconnecting waters all the way to Juojärvi, Rikkavesi, Vaikkojoki, and their tributaries, while also improving connectivity downstream into the Lake Saimaa system, reaching as far as Lappeenranta and Imatra.
Beyond ecological gains, the project offers significant economic benefits, particularly for tourism and the local economy of North Karelia – already in need of revitalisation due to border-related disruptions. The Palokki pre-demolition project aims to create the conditions for dam removal and river restoration in one of Finland’s most critical freshwater ecosystems.
Progress towards the project objectives was strongly supported by a number of key activities. Information events held across numerous municipalities and cities reached a broad and engaged audience, generating strong media coverage and significantly raising public awareness of the issue. Strategic communications directed at municipalities and cities further advanced the project’s goals, ensuring that local authorities remained informed and engaged throughout.
The opening seminar was held on 24th June 2025 in Joensuu, bringing together representatives of the electricity company’s owner municipalities and cities, local politicians, other interested stakeholders, and members of the media. On 14th November, the fourth Eastern Finland Forum – organised jointly with the City of Mikkeli – took place in Mikkeli. The event drew 200 participants, among them the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Petteri Orpo. The Palokki theme featured prominently throughout the forum, and from this point onwards, media coverage and public debate around Palokki grew considerably.
Above all, it is largely thanks to this project that negotiations between the state and the municipalities owning the company were initiated and remain ongoing.
This project received a follow-on grant from the Open Rivers Programme to proceed with the work.
Funded by
