River Storån
Even richer ecological diversity
In southeastern Östergötland, River Storån meanders through an area of small watercourses and wet meadows. River Storån has a rich biodiversity with species such as trout, stone loach, thick-shelled mussel and otter. It is also home to many bird species, such as kingfishers and common starlings.
Previous restoration work has improved the habitat and knowledge of the common mussel. Measures are now planned in other parts of the river to create better habitats for mussels and their host fish.
Species-rich wetlands
The winding course of the Storån river is a very valuable geological formation. The nature values of the wetland at the outlet of Lake Båtsjön and the riverside meadows at Gärdserum are very high overall. The size of the wetland and the fact that it is kept open by grazing is an important factor. In some places, the wetland has a very rich flora and it probably has high values for bird life and for organisms associated with aquatic environments. Large grazed freshwater shores with typical vegetation zonations are rare. In addition, there are large, free-standing oaks in the area that support red-listed species.
The aim is to achieve a favorable conservation status for the species Thick-shelled clam
The area is central to the Uknadalen national interest and has great landscape value due to its location in the valley. The habitats in the area consist of small watercourses and wet meadows.
Trout, mussels and otters
River Storån has a high biodiversity and provides habitat for species such as trout, stonefish, thick-shelled mussels and otters.
Previously, restoration measures have been carried out in River Storån under the LIFE project UC4LIFE, which aimed to increase the knowledge of the thick-shelled mussel and improve its habitats. This project builds on that successful work and aims to restore residual impacts on the aquatic environment and carry out host fish restocking to help the thick shell mussel spread to suitable beds throughout the Natura 2000 site. The aim is to achieve a favorable conservation status for the species. The project includes habitat restoration of a 1,000-meter stretch of stream that is currently cleared and diverted.
Strengthened stocks
The combined strategy of habitat restoration, hydrological restoration and improvement of both longitudinal and transverse connectivity will significantly improve the hydrological system, habitat quality, biodiversity and fish production. Thus, habitats and populations of both fish and mussels will be strengthened, improving the conservation status of the project’s main and secondary target species. The restoration will have a large-scale effect on the Storån ecosystem through increased biodiversity, improved fish production and a more stable hydrological system down to the sea. In addition, an increased abundance of mussel host fish, such as the thick-shelled mussel, will benefit the natural reproduction of freshwater mussels.
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.
River Storån
Latest news from the project area
Here you can read news about the target species and the actions being taken in the project area.