Torne River International Tender

Start Date 01032023End Date 28022030Total Eligible Budget 21363544 EU Contribution 12818126 PROJECT DESCRIPTIONBACKGROUNDThe Torne river basin is a large water system over 40000 km shared by Sweden approximately 60 Finland around 40 and Norway less than 1. The Torne is one of the largest rivers in Europe that has not been exploited for hydropower production however the basins river channels were widely used for log driving i.e. moving timber from forests to sawmills by floating during the 1950s and 1960s. In the main channel only slight modifications of rapid areas were made but in shallow tributaries almost all rapids were heavily modified to enable smooth log driving causing adverse ecological effects and destruction of natural habitats. Dams built to regulate water levels and for construction of roads are blocking fish migration routes and fragment the aquatic habitats of numerous other species. Due to the modifications natural variation in the flow of water is disturbed and vast spawning and nursery areas are unavailable for fish having a negative effect on biodiversity overall. These migration barriers and the modified status of natural river channels and hydrology prevent favourable conservation status and good ecological status being achieved for the Torne river system a Natura 2000 site. Large-scale actions are needed to repair the damage in the Torne river basin including restoration of ecological connectivity hydrology and morphology in the river system and halting pollution originating in the ditched catchment areas.