Last summer, the final concrete foundation of the Görarp dam, which was a migration barrier for fish species in the River Råån, was removed. Unfortunately, despite low flows, some sediment was washed into River Råån causing turbidity in the river. Fortunately, electrofishing in River Råån conducted this summer shows record high densities of small trout downstream of the dam, which suggests that the turbidity probably had limited impact on the aquatic environment.
Electrofishing carried out during the summer in the Görarps Dam’s former impoundment area also shows high presence of trout – meaning that the species has quickly chosen to establish itselv in the new stream habitat that has formed after the water level was lowered. Strong-swimming species, such as trout, have previously been able to pass Görarp Dam thanks to a fish ladder, but weak-swimming species have not been able to migrate past. Therefore, the measure is particularly important for species that were previously unable to swim past the Görarp Dam, such as greenling, id, roach and lamprey.
What remains to be done at Görarpsdammen is to carry out habitat restoration in the river channel and in some places facilitate flooding so that the floodplain forest at the former impoundment area can benefit.
A trout passing the Görarp dam at full speed.