The project aims to assess the feasibility of, and create preconditions for, the removal of six barriers from the lower course of the Korana River in Croatia.
Korana River is the bloodstream for an area of over 2,200 km², with its catchment covering parts of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is 134 km long, from its source in Plitvice Lakes to its confluence with the Kupa River in Karlovac. Belonging to the Black Sea basin, it is not navigable. Its high ecological value is reflected in its inclusion in the Natura 2000 network.
The river is home to migratory fish and other species protected under the EU Habitats Directive (e.g., Cobitis elongata, Barbus balcanicus, Rhodeus amarus, Unio crassus). Many of these species are considered vulnerable or near-threatened and are directly impacted by river fragmentation.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: pre-demolition |
| Country | Croatia |
| River | Korana |
| Focal species | Myotis bechsteinii, Lutra lutra, Unio crassus, Cobitis elongata, Barbus balcanicus, Rhodeus amarus, Rutilus virgo, Leuciscus (Aspius) aspius |
| Organisation | Zelena akcija / Friends of the Earth Croatia |
| Website | Zelena akcija – Friends of the Earth Croatia website |
This project continues a previous initiative supported by the Open Rivers Programme, during which 74 man-made barriers on the Korana River were mapped and assessed. Using a rigorous scoring system developed in that phase, six priority barriers (FKR1–FKR6) were identified for potential removal due to their high ecological impact and low current utility. All six are located in the lower part of the Korana River, near its confluence with the Kupa River.
Reconnecting this stretch will open over 25 km of upstream river and tributaries, restoring natural longitudinal connectivity, improving conditions for migratory fish, sediment flow, and overall ecological quality. These 25 km of Korana will be reconnected to more than 950 km of free-flowing river downstream, part of the Kupa-Sava-Danube drainage.
The main goal of the project is to assess feasibility and create the technical and social preconditions for removing artificial barriers from the lower course of the Korana River. To achieve this, the project team will carry out a series of studies and collect all necessary documentation to request permits for barrier removal from the relevant authorities. At the same time, engagement with all relevant stakeholders will be continued to secure institutional and local community support for the planned removals.
Funded by
