Coexistence of Hydropower Plants and Natura 2000 Fish Species: A Case Study of the Danube Longbarbel Gudgeon and Cactus Roach in the Impounded Sava River (Slovenia)

Gorazd Urbanič (), Andrej Vidmar, Davor Zanella, Marko Ćaleta, Roman Karlović, Maja Pavlin Urbanič and Andrej Kryžanowski
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Gorazd Urbanič: Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Andrej Vidmar: Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Davor Zanella: Department of Biology, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Ćaleta: Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Savska cesta 77, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Roman Karlović: Department of Biology, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Pavlin Urbanič: URBANZERO Institute for Holistic Environmental Management Ltd., Selo pri Mirni 17, 8233 Mirna, Slovenia
Andrej Kryžanowski: Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: The sustainable management of water bodies with hydropower plants (HPPs) and protected rheophilic fish species is challenging. The key question is whether impounded rivers can still provide habitat for protected rheophilic fish species, including Natura 2000 species. We investigated hydro-morphological conditions and fish communities, focusing on the bottom-dwelling Danube longbarbel gudgeon ( Romanogobio uranoscopus ) and the medium-distance migrating cactus roach ( Rutilus virgo ) in the Brežice HPP system on the Sava River in Slovenia. Fish sampling using an electric bottom trawl in the HPP impoundment, electrofishing in the nearshore, and video surveillance in the fish pass revealed a diverse and distinctive fish community. This community reflected rheophilic conditions in the upper impoundment and fish pass, and lentic conditions in the lower impoundment. These findings provide evidence that impounded rivers, when complemented by well-designed mitigation measures, can sustain rheophilic fish species, including the Danube longbarbel gudgeon and cactus roach. Maintaining rheophilic habitat within the impoundment, combined with a functioning river-like side channel, is crucial. However, at Brežice HPP, changes in the management of the fish pass water inflow are necessary to ensure adequate and consistent hydraulic conditions and water temperatures. Applying a knowledge co-creation approach, which requires productive interaction among scientists, managers and policy makers, could help to find the best solutions for sustainable water ecosystem management.

Keywords: protected fish species; dams; hydroelectric power plants; fish passes; sustainable water management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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