Stångån river restoration project to remove dams near Sundsvall

A major environmental project is underway to restore the Stångån river south of Sundsvall, Sweden, by removing the final remaining dams. This initiative aims to reopen a 30-kilometer stretch of the river for fish and other aquatic species, eliminating migration barriers that have existed since the 1600s.

Six dams have already been removed. The project, a collaboration between Sundsvall Municipality, Torrsjö Kraft, and the organization Sportfiskarna, is working to demolish the two remaining dams owned by the municipality. Preparations are currently in progress, with completion expected by 2027.

Project leader Sven-Åke Westman noted that sea trout are already present in the area. Once the final barriers are removed, the river is expected to return to a state similar to its condition before it was utilized for hydropower, providing essential spawning and nursery grounds for species such as trout and salmon.