Project area field trip

The first joint field trip with all project partners was held on 6 and 7 February 2024 on the rivers Jadro and Vrljika. 18 experts, representatives of partners from Croatian Waters (state legal entity for water management), the Public Institution Sea and Karst, the Faculty of Science of the University of Zagreb, and the Institute for Nature and Environment and Protection of the Ministry of the Economy and Sustainable Development attended the field trip, as well as the meeting held after the trip. Four barriers were detected on the Jadro River and six on the Vrljika River that prevent undisturbed migration of fish and other migratory species. In order to improve the state of the population of soft-mouthed trout, endemic species that are within the European Union present only in Croatia, we will restore habitats on these two rivers by removing artificial barriers and ensuring permeability for the smooth downstream and upstream movement of fish. This will contribute to the achievement of the national objective of at least 25,000 km free-flowing rivers at the European Union level, as set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

On the field, experts discussed possibilities for the complete removal or adaptation of particular water barriers from several aspects – hydromorphological and geotechnical, and biological requirements of the species, and conservation of Natura 2000 target species and habitats. It was concluded that the local community also plays a crucial role in the decision-making and that the support and consent of the local population is very important to us because they live in co-existence with these rivers. The field trip was organized with an aim of collecting and exchanging information among project partners on the basis of which it will be possible to prepare the first proposal for concrete projects and measures to be implemented on individual water barriers. The local population will be informed and involved in the process of habitat restoration on their rivers through joint workshops, which will be organized during the project.