River Göta älv north

Work on the pearl mussel and salmon is a priority, but trout, grayling, burbot, crayfish and many bird species such as the spoonbill and wolverine, as well as mammals such as otters, are also favored.

LIKAN & TVÄRLIKAN
The watercourses Likan and Tvärlikan are located in northern Värmland and together have a length of 29 kilometers and a catchment area of 122.8 km². The watercourses flow into Klarälven and have Natura 2000 status. The large difference in altitude of 360 meters gives the watercourses many streams and rapids.

At least eight species of fish occur in the watercourse, including trout, grayling, burbot and the unique Klarälven salmon, which is a priority in both the Likan and Klarälven Natura 2000 sites. The Likan is also an important habitat for several valuable benthic animals, such as the mayflies(Ameletus inopinatus and Ephemerella aurivillii), and the caddisflies(Lype phaeopa).

Many of the area’s wetlands have been drained, affecting water flow, sediment filtration and nutrient balance.

Sensitive to acidification
Likan has a low buffering capacity against acidification, which makes the watercourses sensitive to acid shocks. To counteract this, Värmlands läns Kalkningsförbund carries out extensive liming measures every year on behalf of the Värmland County Administrative Board.

Large parts of the wetlands in the catchment are drained, which has impaired water retention, sediment filtration and nutrient uptake. This has led to an increased risk of low flows during dry periods and high flows during rainfall. To improve hydrology and reduce carbon emissions, 135 hectares of wetlands will be restored. In addition, 27 sediment traps will be installed to reduce particulate emissions.

Many bird species benefit
Wetland rewetting benefits many threatened species. In Sweden, over 600 species are dependent on wetlands, including osprey, little grebe and bittern. Other species that benefit include otters, wolverines, grouse and capercaillie, as well as wading birds such as the dunlin, golden plover and crane. The measures also improve the habitat for the three-toed woodpecker by increasing the amount of dead wood and deciduous trees.

Fish migration measures
Several areas within Likan have been affected by floodway clearance, reducing habitat diversity and impairing water retention and connectivity. The project will therefore include the removal of rocks and boulders and the removal of old dams that impede fish migration.
Over the last 100 years, the forestry industry has built many logging roads across watercourses, where road culverts are often poorly constructed and impede fish migration. The project will therefore adapt or replace road culverts to allow free migration.
25 years ago, a fishway was built in the lower part of Likan to allow salmon and trout migration. This passage is now obsolete, and a new fishway is proposed.

The measures are expected to significantly improve hydrology, habitat quality, migration and biodiversity, benefiting salmon, trout and grayling.

Finally, an inventory of the pearl mussel will be carried out. If mussels are found, restoration efforts will be adapted. The liming strategy in the basin will also be adjusted to ensure that the ecosystem is not negatively affected by acidification.

FÄMTAN
Fämtan in northern Värmland is one of the largest tributaries of the river Klarälven and is an important habitat for the threatened inland populations of Klarälvs/Vänerlax and trout, which migrate up from Lake Vänern every year. The watercourse has Natura 2000 status from the Värmland border to the mouth of the river Klarälven, a stretch of 25 km with a catchment area of 288 km².

Log driving and industry have influenced
The Fämtan has a very varied landscape with calm flows, rapids and falls. The upper parts are bordered by pine forests and wetlands, while the lower parts are characterized by a dramatic canyon. The river has relatively little impact from hydropower, but has historically been used for timber rafting, milling, iron industry and small-scale power plants, which has changed its natural appearance and negatively affected biodiversity. The area is also of cultural-historical interest with several ancient monuments.

Acidification threat
A large part of the catchment area has a low buffering capacity against acidification, which makes the river sensitive to acid shocks. To counteract this, Värmlands läns Kalkningsförbund carries out extensive liming measures every year on behalf of the Värmland County Administrative Board.

Many of the area’s wetlands have been drained, affecting water flow, sediment filtration and nutrient balance. This has led to a deterioration in water quality and an increased risk of extreme floods. Wetland rewetting is an important measure to improve hydrological and ecological status. The project includes the restoration of 96 hectares of wetlands and the installation of five sedimentation traps to reduce the discharge of fine particles into the River Fämtan.

From osprey to otter
Wetland restoration also benefits threatened species. A total of 600 red-listed species depend on wetlands, including osprey, little grebe and bittern. Other species benefiting include otter, wolverine, black grouse and capercaillie, as well as wading birds such as the dunlin and the golden plover.

The river has also been affected by floodway clearance that removed boulders and dead wood, reducing habitat and impairing water retention and connectivity. The project therefore involves returning rocks and boulders to the river and removing old dams that impede fish migration. In addition, faulty road culverts will be replaced to improve ecological connectivity.
The measures are expected to significantly improve hydrology, habitat quality and fish production, benefiting target species such as salmon and trout, as well as secondary species such as grayling.
Finally, an inventory of the river pearl mussel will be carried out, and restoration efforts will be adapted if mussels are found.

BILLAN
Billan is one of Värmland’s most protected water systems. The river flows from the lakes Nordre and Søndre Billingen in Norway to Vrångsälven in Sweden. About two thirds of the watercourse is in Norway, where it is called Finnsrudselva. The river has a natural and varied environment with rapids, rocky bottoms and outflow areas, creating good conditions for biodiversity. Further south, the landscape becomes flatter and the river meanders through an area of swamp forest and deciduous scrub, important habitats for bird species.

River pearl mussel and unique trout
Billan is classified as a nationally particularly valuable watercourse and, in addition to the river pearl mussel, is home to a unique strain of stream stationary trout, red-listed bottom fauna species and otters. There used to be a strong population of crayfish, before the crayfish plague wiped out the population. In 2021, it was confirmed that the plague had disappeared, and since then a reintroduction has begun with crayfish from the original stock. This has been made possible thanks to the resumption of liming in the area.

Forestry has silted up beds
Negative impacts come mainly from forestry, which has caused siltation of the beds. Therefore, 46 sedimentation traps, clogging of ditches and improved riparian zones are planned. In addition, wetlands will be rewetted to improve water management and water quality.
Floodplain drainage has historically had a major impact on the river, and the return of rock material is needed to restore natural processes and spawning beds for trout, which is crucial for the survival of the river pearl mussel.

Cooperation on acidification
The area is also affected by acidification. Liming measures have been resumed in Norway after a break, and close cooperation with Norwegian authorities is crucial to ensure good water chemistry in the watercourse.
In total, the project in Billan includes about 41 hectares of restoration measures, of which 21 hectares are wetland restoration.