English summary

From source to sea - restoring river Moälven

The main objective is to restore and improve the habitats of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), bullhead (Cottus gobio), freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and otter (Lutra lutra) in the Swedish river Moälven. Former populations of these species have been extinct or decimated due to power plant stations, log floating and pollution.

A fish ladder will be built beside a human induced waterfall to make it possible for Atlantic salmon and other fish species to reach the tributary Utterån. Rocks and boulders which were removed for log floating are replaced in the river to restore fish habitats. Atlantic salmon fry will be stocked in the river to establish a self-sustaining natural population. A viable salmonid population will promote reproduction of the freshwater pearl mussel. Hazardous road crossings of otter will be reduced by making connections between stream banks under road bridges.

The project is managed by the municipality of Örnsköldsvik with financial support from the EU fund LIFE Nature, The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, The Swedish Board of Fisheries, Moälvsfisket, Örnsköldsviks Naturskyddsfond, Holmen Skog, The Swedish Forest Agency and The County Administrative Board of Västernorrland.

For more information, please contact
Håkan Jansson, project manager
+46 660 88725, hakan.jansson@ornskoldsvik.se

Photgraphs: Otter (Kenneth Johansson), Atlantic salmon (Calle Bredberg), freshwater pearl mussel (Kenneth Johansson).