TRIWA LIFE - The Torne River International Watershed LIFE
TRIWA LIFE is a collaborative project with Finland to restore the natural environment in watercourses and wetlands affected by human activity. The project will benefit the diversity of aquatic animals and plants.
Background
The Torne River, like many other rivers, has been used to float timber. To facilitate the timber's progress, the waterways were straightened and blocks and stones were cleared away. Side channels were closed, the main channels were narrowed and dams were built. This led to the fact that the variation in the waterways and in the habitats for all aquatic species largely disappeared.
When the floating stopped, the infrastructure network was expanded instead. Roads cause different types of environmental problems for the waterways. For example, incorrectly laid road culverts can be a migration obstacle for fish and other aquatic animals. Human activity, mainly ditching, also affects wetlands. Many bogs have previously been dug up with the aim of getting forest or agricultural land, but also road ditches cause a negative environmental impact.
Restoration of waterways and wetlands to a living habitatitat
The TRIWA project recreates the natural environment in several of Torne River tributaries to provide the conditions for a biological diversity that has been lost. We aim to restore the environment of almost 100 km of waterways, remove 399 migration traps and restore 2,500 hectares of wetlands.
Restoration is carried out by putting stones back and loosening the bottoms of the streams with excavators. Parts of the work is manual, for example, when we recreate spawning grounds. We will also remove dams and replace road culverts which are migration barriers for the fish. In Finland, we will create circulation for fish at the two power plant dams in Tengeliönjoki. Wetlands in Finland and Sweden will be restored by filling and plugging the ditches to restore hydrology to the drained wetland. The project leads to better living conditions for all species. The work will benefit salmon, otters, green snake tails, freshwater pearl mussels, bullheads, and other species.
The TRIWA project is carried out during the period 2023 - 2030 and contributes to the goal of "good or high ecological status" in the watercourses, according to the EU's framework directive for water. The project also improves the so-called conservation status of the watercourses and benefits the species according to the Natura 2000 directives.
Objectives of the TRIWA project
- Environmental restoration of 96 km of waterways (71 km in Sweden and 25 km in Finland).
- Fix 399 migration traps.
- Restore 2,500 hectares of wetlands.
- Reduce the negative impact of greenhouse gases by developing.
- Improve the habitats of salmon, green snake tails, freshwater pearl mussels, bullheads, and otters.
LTU’s role
Applied Geochemistry will closely monitor headwater stream quality before and after restoration. Therefore, we use an environmental forensics approach, combining element concentrations with isotope ratios, to understand how restoration affects water quality.
Financing and partners
The project is financed with the support of the European Union's LIFE programme, Region Norrbotten, the Norwegian Sea and Water Authority, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Kiruna, Pajala, Övertorneå, Haparanda, Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Tornio, Pello and Ylitornio municipalities.
Project partners
- The County Administrative Board in Norrbotten
- Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management
- Luleå University of Technology
- Sveaskog AB
- ELY-centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
- Metsäkeskus Forest Centre
- Metsähallitus
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
- University of Oulu
With support from the European Union's LIFE programme. The publisher of the information is responsible for its content. The European Commission assumes no responsibility for its content and how it is distributed.
TRIWA LIFE External link. | The county board in Norrbotten
Contact
Sarah Conrad
- Senior Lecturer
- 0920-493478
- sarah.conrad@ltu.se
- Sarah Conrad
Updated: