Preparation for dam removal activities in the Bulgarian Arda River Basin.
Arda is the second largest tributary of the Maritsa River. It is a transboundary river with a length of 241 km and a basin area of 5,201 km² on Bulgarian territory. The maximum flow of the river occurs during winter, while the average annual flow before the border with Greece is 77 m³/s. The Arda River Basin is also part of Ecoregion 7, according to the Water Framework Directive.
The lower Arda is influenced by three large dams, but its middle and upper sections are characterised by a wide variety of endemic fish species and long stretches with intact hydromorphological conditions.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| River | Arda |
| Focal species | Salmo macedonicus, Chondrostoma vardarense, Vimba melanops, Cobitis strumicae, Barbus cyclolepis, Sabanejewia balcanica, Gobio bulgaricus, Squalius orphaeus |
| Organisation | Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation |
| Website | coming soon. |
This project aims to initiate dam removal activities in the Bulgarian Arda River Basin. Flowing through one of Europe’s most wilderness-rich areas – home to vultures, brown bears, European bison, deep forests and dramatic cliffs – the Arda has not previously been targeted by river restoration projects.
No existing comprehensive data on barriers in the Arda basin has been identified, but it is estimated that approximately 250 barriers may exist within the project’s geographical scope. Establishing a proper inventory is therefore a critical step to enable future dam removal actions.
The project will be divided in several steps. Firstly, it will develop a barrier inventory covering more than 750 km of river stretches within the Arda river basin. Following this, barriers will be ranked based on ecological significance and feasibility.
Feasibility assessments will then be conducted for 10 shortlisted barriers, including analysis of ownership, legal status, historical and current uses, and potential legal pathways for removal.
A hydrobiological study will provide ecological evidence to support removal, alongside the development of conceptual technical demolition designs and cost estimates for three selected barriers.
Throughout the process, proactive stakeholder engagement and negotiation will be carried out, supported by a targeted communication approach across multiple channels.
Funded by
