Systematic mapping and assessment of migration barriers in Slovak Paradise National Park to support future restoration actions.
The Slovak Paradise National Park was established in 1988. It covers an area of approximately 19,763 ha and 12 main watercourses cross it, with a total length of more than 200 km (including tributaries).
The project aims to identify barriers in this area and determine the three most significant ones. The most substantial of these barriers will be the focus of a subsequent removal process scheduled for 2029. The barriers will be evaluated according to the ‘Methodology for Making Migration Barriers for Ichthyofauna Passable’ (VÚVH, 2023), and, in cooperation with the Research Institute of Water Management, the mapped barriers will also be assessed according to the Slovakian barrier prioritisation methodology. Priority barriers for removal will then be identified.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Slovakia |
| River | Hornád and Hnilec river basins |
| Focal species | Salmo trutta m. fario, Thymallus thymallus, Eudontomyzon danfordi |
| Organisation | VODA & RYBY, n. o. |
| Website | vodaaryby.sk |
Several important watercourses of mountain and submountain character are found in the territory of the Slovak Paradise National Park, and their migratory permeability is limited by a yet unspecified number of migratory barriers with varying degrees of permeability for fish and other aquatic animals. The project therefore represents an opportunity for systematic mapping of these barriers across the territory of the National Park, with the aim of creating the first spatial database of the location of barriers, including the assessment of their basic properties and migratory selectivity.
The information gathered will be utilised at a later date in the development of a plan for their step-by-step elimination and making sure the continued connection of the watercourses. This process will also fulfil Slovakia’s water policy goals in terms of the revitalisation and restoration of the migratory passability of watercourses. For the project team, the implementation of the project will also mean the gaining of valuable practical experience for use in the planning and implementation of similar projects in the future.
A detailed database and inventory of migration barriers in the territory of the Slovak Paradise National Park will be created by the project, as these have been missing so far. At the same time, the development of a prioritisation of the removal of the most significant barriers will take place, in cooperation with the National Park Administration and supporting project partners. This will serve as a basic document for planning the implementation of their removal with the help of a follow-up project.
Overall, the project will strengthen cooperation between the non-profit organisation sector and the National Park Administration, as well as the scientific institution represented by the Water Research Institute. An important output will be presenting the obtained results at thematically associated events. This activity can therefore serve as inspiration and an example of good practice for implementing similar measures in other territories, and can generally help to raise awareness of the issue of removing migration barriers.
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