The Bijela River flows freely again after eight barriers are removed

The eighth and final barrier covered by the restoration project has been removed from the Bijela River, one of the important tributaries of the Plitvice Lakes system. Dam Removal Europe states that this restored the natural flow of water and habitat continuity important for the return of the Danube salmon.

Small barriers can disrupt an entire life cycle

A river barrier does not have to be a large dam to alter an ecosystem. Even low, abandoned or dilapidated structures can block fish migration, slow sediment transport and change the water's speed, temperature and depth. When several such barriers occur along a short stretch, their effects add up.

Removing an unnecessary barrier restores continuity, but does not mean that every function returns on the same day. The river needs time to reshape its channel, and species need time to find and start using the restored passages.

What to monitor after the intervention

A good restoration project continues with monitoring. It is important to track fish movements, the status of the Danube salmon population, riverbed structure, water quality and riparian vegetation. These data show whether the intervention is achieving the expected ecological effect and whether further action is needed.

The Bijela River example is also important as a practical model: ownership, safety, cultural value and potential downstream consequences must be checked before removal. River restoration is not demolition at any cost, but the targeted removal of barriers that no longer serve a justified function and whose removal has been professionally assessed.