The Bijela Rijeka stream– the first free-flowing watercourse in the Republic of Croatia

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Shortly before World Water Day (March 22), work to remove the artificial barriers on the Bijela Rijeka was completed. This stream thus became the first free-flowing watercourse in the Republic of Croatia and the first watercourse to undergo complex measures to remove artificial barriers and restore old watercourses. This ensured the longitudinal connection of the entire watercourse, improved its ecological condition and enabled the upstream migration of Danube trout (Salmo labrax) for spawning.

Photos: 1: Location 1, Bijela rijeka flows under the artificial barrier, through pipes; 2: Location 1, Bijela rijeka flows under the artificial barrier, through pipes; 3: Location 1 after the barrier and pipes have been removed; 4: Location 1 after the barrier and pipes have been removed

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In May last year, we informed you about the problems caused by artificial barriers on streams and rivers, the reasons for their removal and the start of work on the Bijela Rijeka: https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/the-first-removal-of-an-artificial-barrier-on-a-watercourse-in-the-republic-of-croatia-begins-today/. The last, and as it turned out, the most demanding work was carried out at the point where the Bijela Rijeka and Crna Rijeka flow into the Matica river. Previously, these two watercourses flowed into each other through concrete pipes in a completely inappropriate and artificial way, which we were able to change and return to a natural way by restoring the old course of the Bijela Rijeka.

Photos: Photo 5: Location 3, remains of the old mill and sawmill before removal; Photo 6: Location 3 after removal of the barriers; Photo 7: Location 4, remains of the artificial barrier (right) and the restored part of the old stream (left); Photo 8: Location 6 remains of the mill and barrier on the Bijela rijeka (right) and the restored part of the old stream (left)

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In the photo and video gallery you can see what the Bijela Rijeka looked like before the barriers were removed and what its free course looks like today. We are particularly proud of the first monitoring results, which show that Danube trout are already returning to the restored watercourses.

Photos: Photo 9: Location 6, Danube trout caught on the renovated part of the old stream (photo David Dianežević); Photo 10: Location 7, Bijela rijeka flows into the pipe under the 50 m long embankment; Photo 11: Location 7, Bijela rijeka flows through the pipe under the 50 m long embankment; Photo 12: Location 7, removed embankment and pipe (photo Darko Mihalić)

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Photos: Photo 13: Location 7, the course of the Bijela River after the removal of the embankment and pipes (photo Darko Mihalić); Photo 14: Location 8, the Bijela River passes through the pipes and flows into the Crna River (photo Darko Mihalić); Photo 15: Location 8, the Crna River (right) and the old dry bed of the Bijela River (photo Darko Mihalić); Photo 16: Location 8 Crna River (left) and Bijela River (right) immediately before the restoration of the old junction; Photo 17: Location 8, the Bijela River after the restoration of the old course no longer flows through the pipes; Photo 18: Location 8, the Bijela River in the restored old course merges with the Crna River; Photo 19: Location 8 – the natural junction of the Bijela and Crna Rivers after the works