River Kävlingeån and Bråån

At least 18 fish species
The project area for River Kävlingeån is located in western Skåne, where the river flows into Lommabukten in Öresund. River Kävlingeån is Skåne’s third largest watercourse with a catchment area of 1197 km². The tributary Bråån is 55 km long, of which 2.5 km is part of the Natura 2000 area Rövarekulan.

At least 18 fish species live in the Kävlingeån water system, including the priority species salmon and stonefish. River lamprey should also be present, but migration barriers in the main channel have prevented re-establishment. River Kävlingeån is also one of Sweden’s most important rivers for the critically endangered European eel. Bråån also contains trout and stonefish, which are host fish for the endangered thick-shelled mussel. Otters have increased in the area over the last decade.

Some stretches of the river need restoration to enhance habitat and biodiversity.

Intensive agriculture and canalization
The catchment is dominated by intensive agriculture, which has led to eutrophication and physical impacts on water bodies and wetlands. River Kävlingeån The river Bråån flows through arable land, pastures and deciduous forests, but is affected by ditches and canalization. Fish migration is restricted by dams, power plants and mills. Dam construction has also altered natural stream habitats, which has negatively affected trout smolt production over the last 15 years. As a result, the water bodies do not achieve ‘good status’ under the EU Water Framework Directive.

Removing obstacles
The project aims to restore free passage between Rövarekulan and the sea by removing four migration obstacles (three in River Kävlingeån and one in Bråån). Three barriers are to be removed by lowering or by constructing natural fishways at historically valuable mill sites. The restoration of previously dammed stretches will improve habitat quality and benefit migratory species.

At the Natura 2000 site Rövarekulan, Bråån flows through a 25 meter deep valley with deciduous forest and pastures. The thick-shelled mussel is found here, but regeneration is weak. Parts of the river’s stretches need to be restored to strengthen habitat and biodiversity. The measures aim to improve the environment for mussels by increasing the number of host fish, especially trout and minnow, and by stocking host fish infected with mussel larvae.

River lamprey to be favored
The project also includes restoration of habitats for river lamprey, by creating backwaters downstream of spawning areas in both River Kävlingeån and Bråån. Due to physical changes, important nursery areas for lamprey are currently missing. The species is disadvantaged by the migration barriers that exist and that will be addressed in the project.

The combined strategy of habitat restoration, restoration of migration routes and improved hydrology will benefit fish and mussel populations, increase biodiversity and strengthen the ecosystem of the entire Kävlingeån water system. This will also contribute to the conservation of the Natura 2000 site Rövarekulan and its protected species.