Did you know that one of the most valuable river stretches in Romania in terms of biodiversity is the upper course of the Mureș River? This area hosts a wide variety of habitats that support a rich aquatic world of fish, mammals, and amphibians.
However, numerous dams and weirs – many of them outdated and no longer in use – have fragmented these habitats, preventing the free movement of certain migratory fish species and disrupting the transport of sediment and nutrients in the rivers – significantly reducing fish spawning opportunities.
So far, only the lower course of the river has been the focus of restoration projects. But through the Open Rivers Programme in the Upper Mureș Basin, we are now turning our attention to the upper section.
The main goal of the project is to identify and prioritise artificial barriers in the upper Mureș Basin for potential removal, restore habitat connectivity, and boost biodiversity.
Together with our project partners, the Romanian Wilderness Society (RWS), we will conduct extensive studies over 550 km of river and tributaries. We will map the river to assess the ecological impact of each barrier.
The data collected will be integrated into national and European platforms such as the AMBER Barrier Atlas.
Our aim is to produce a complete inventory of existing barriers on this section of the Mureș and to compile a list of those most suitable for removal.
Ultimately, this effort will complement the work done on the lower Mureș, contributing to a basin-wide strategy to improve riparian ecosystems and enhance climate resilience.
