The project aims to complete the necessary technical and administrative preparatory work to fully remove six obsolete migration barriers in the Brzeźniczka, Rudy Rów, and Rudy Rów 2 tributaries, restoring ecological connectivity and access to approximately 25 km of high-quality spawning and nursery habitat within the Parsęta River basin.
The project is located in the Parsęta River basin in north-western Poland, a vital coastal system that flows into the Baltic Sea. It specifically focuses on the Brzeźniczka stream and two neighbouring tributaries, Rudy Rów and Rudy Rów 2.
These streams are ecologically significant as they represent the only substantial tributaries along a 20 km stretch of the Parsęta upstream of the village of Doble. While this section of the main Parsęta channel is dominated by sandy substrate with limited spawning potential, these tributaries offer high-quality gravelly and stony habitats. Reconnecting these streams will restore access to approximately 25 km of prime spawning and nursery grounds. The area features well-preserved valleys with natural channel morphology, providing ideal conditions for migratory and rheophilic fish species, such as sea trout and lampreys.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: pre-demolition |
| Country | Poland |
| River | Brzeźniczka, Rudy Rów, Rudy Rów 2 |
| Focal species | Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Sea trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta), Vimba carp (Vimba vimba), River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), Grayling (Thymallus thymallus), Bullhead (Cottus gobio) |
| Organisation | Fundacja Rewilding Pomerania / Rewilding Pomerania Foundation |
| Website | rewilding-pomerania.pl |
This pre-demolition project addresses six obsolete barriers, including ruined weirs and culverts, in the Brzeźniczka and its neighbouring tributaries that disrupt ecological connectivity within the Parsęta River basin. These structures currently block access to approximately 25 km of high-quality spawning and nursery habitats.
The primary opportunity lies in the fact that these streams represent the only significant tributaries with gravelly substrate along a 20 km section of the Parsęta, where the main channel is predominantly sandy and offers limited spawning potential. Reconnecting them is vital for the recovery of migratory species, including sea trout, Atlantic salmon, and lampreys.
Currently, removal is hindered by a lack of administrative documentation and permits rather than technical feasibility. This project bridges that gap by preparing the necessary technical designs to enable full barrier demolition and restore natural ecosystem processes.
The primary goal is to restore ecological connectivity within the Parsęta River basin by completing all preparatory work required to remove six obsolete barriers in the Brzeźniczka stream and neighbouring tributaries. This involves conducting field surveys, hydrological analyses, and environmental assessments to obtain the necessary administrative permits and technical designs for full demolition. The project specifically targets the recovery of migratory and rheophilic fish, such as sea trout and lampreys, by reopening access to high-quality spawning grounds.
Expected outcomes include a complete readiness package consisting of technical documentation and permits, making the barriers ready for demolition once implementation funding is secured. Reconnecting these streams will restore access to approximately 25 km of prime spawning and nursery habitats. This will enhance the ecological potential of the river network, support “Good Ecological Status”, and restore natural sediment transport and hydromorphological processes. Finally, the project will provide a template for future restoration in the region, strengthening institutional confidence in barrier removal as a tool for biodiversity recovery.
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