A hydropower plant will be demolished. Making River Örekilsälven free from migration barriers so that salmon, sea lamprey, eels and other migratory species can reach important spawning and nursery habitats.
River Örekilsälven flows into the Saltkällefjorden and accounts for about eight percent of the total salmon smolt production in the waters of Sweden’s west coast, making it the most important salmon river in the region. Species such as trout, eel and sea lamprey are also found here, as well as birds and mammals including the white-throated dipper, grey wagtail, otter and several bat species. Historically, the river has been heavily impacted by dam construction, hydropower plants and channelization.
Once the hydropower plant is removed, the river will be completely free of migration barriers.
Free from migration barriers
Nowadays, both past and ongoing environmental projects in the Örekil River basin have already improved the situation, through habitat restoration and the removal of road culverts and other migration barriers. In 2024, the dam at Lilla Röd, upstream of Kärnsjön, was removed.
The planned demolition of the hydropower plant at Torp, closer to the sea, will eliminate another major obstacle and open up approximately ten hectares of habitat for salmon and 1,500 hectares of lake habitat for eel. Once the hydropower plant is removed, the river will be completely free of migration barriers, from its sources all the way to the sea.
Improved water flow
A new dam with a fishway will be built 200 meters upstream to secure water supply and improve the regulation of Lake Kärnsjön. The construction of this new dam is crucial to the success of many of the planned actions in the catchment area, and is part of the extensive environmental and nature conservation work being carried out under theImprove Aquatic LIFE project.
Beyond the Improve Aquatic LIFE project, the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland is also working to restore wetlands that were preaviously drained in the upper parts of the catchment area. Directly downstream of Torp, the river will undergo habitat restoration following earlier channel modifications for timber floating. This restoration is being carried out by Munkedal municipality.
The combined measures will improve hydrology and benefit water flow in the river basin of Örekilsälven.