Pjältån
Comprehensive improvements to the entire river
Between Kilaån and Motala ström, Pjältån flows through a rift valley landscape with deciduous forest, wetlands and occasionally flooded forest. Species such as brown trout, river lamprey, eel and stone loach are found here. The Pjältån is particularly important as a breeding ground for sea trout. Birds such as kingfishers and Arctic char, as well as mammals such as otters, are also found in the area.
Three migration barriers, including old hydropower plants and a 60-meter culvert, will be removed to restore natural flow and connectivity. Habitat and floodplain areas will be restored on channelized sections, totalling 74.6 hectares.
The Pjältån project area is located in the northeastern part of Östergötland County in a landscape characterized by rift valleys in the bedrock and many lakes of varying sizes. Between Kilaån and Motala ström, Pjältån flows through a rift valley landscape with deciduous forest, wetlands and occasionally flooded forest.
Habitat and wetland restoration will be carried out on a 74.6 hectare stretch
The area includes Skriketorpsravinen, a nature reserve and Natura 2000 site, where the small watercourse Pjältån has cut deeply through thick layers of fine-grained sediment in the valley bottom. The ravine is varied with several smaller side ravines. Within the ravine grows broadleaf forest. The project area also includes Pjältåns mader, an area south of Skriketorpsravinen where the Pjältån flows through a landscape with wetlands and deciduous swamp forest.
Several important fish species
The Pjältån is a small coastal watercourse with a rich biological life. The river is home to several important species, such as trout, river lamprey, European eel and stone loach. The Pjältån is considered to be the most important spawning area for sea trout in the county. Breeding birds include kingfishers and white-tailed egrets. There are also otters in the area.
Dry channel comes to life
The project will remove three partial migration barriers, which are former hydropower plants and mills. A 60-meter culvert will be removed, allowing the water flow to return to its natural channel, which is currently dry. Habitat and wetland restoration will be carried out on a 74.6 hectare stretch previously channelized for agriculture.
Stable water system all the way to the sea
The combined strategy of habitat restoration, hydrological restoration and connectivity improvement will significantly improve the hydrological system, habitat quality, biodiversity and fish production.
This will strengthen fish and mussel habitats and populations, improving the conservation status of the project’s main and secondary target species. The restoration is expected to have a large-scale positive effect on the Pjältån ecosystem, with increased biodiversity, improved fish production and a more stable hydrological system down to the sea.
Survival of river pearl mussels depends on host fish
Barriers to migration
Removing migration barriers and opening up the river pearl mussel’s host fish, salmon and trout, will increase the species’ ability to reproduce. Barriers to migration come in many forms, from natural to man-made dams and power plants. In some cases, a good solution may be to build a wildlife passage to allow fish and other organisms to bypass the migration barrier.
Pjältån
Latest news from the project area
Here you can read news about the target species and the actions being taken in the project area.
