Neža Posnjak (SI) & Tibor Mikuska

(HR)

LCT Sava

River

Sava River in Slovenia - 3 large scale dams in upper Sava – 2 smaller scale planned; - 10 large scale dams planned in middle Sava stretch; - 4 large scale dams in lower Sava, 1 under construction (Brežice), 1 planned (Mokrice).

Total: 7 + 12 = 19 large scale dams

Conflicts: - hydropower; - angling; - nature conservation; - Hucho hucho; - benthos.

Middle Sava & Hucho hucho

Hucho hucho habitat + Natura 2000 = 10 new HEPPs ?!

Lower Sava

• Chain of 4 (6) HEPPs; Brežice HEPP is under construcion, Mokrice HEPP is in EIA process (we filed our complaint); • Natura 2000 – Spodnja Sava (Rutilus pigus virgo); • Benthos;

White Book on Balkan Rivers – spring 2016

HEPP Boštanj (nas-stik.si)

HEPP Brežice (nas-stik.si)

Rutilus pigus virgo

• 7 HPP from Slovenian border downstream Sisak (150 MW)

• 54 km long Sava-Sava channel • Navigability upstream Slovenia • 350 ha of new construction land • cost: 1,4 bill EUR • Affecting 130 km of river

Our response • Participation in all legal procedures (SEA, EIA, NIA)

concerning the project

• Writing complaints to official bodies against the project

• Inclusion of the Sava into NATURA 2000 network

• Organizing press trips to inform

public, officials and potential

funding bodies (e.g., EU funds)

• Developing alternative vision

for the Sava – river restoration,

green infrastructure and recreation

as primary goals

• Enhance the navigation class from existing III to IV (even Vb at some downstream stretches)

• 91 embankments (27 new embankments should be built to have 1 per 4 km), 200 T-groins (106 new planned to be built)

• 1.734 Mio m3 sediment planned to be excavated

• 1,2 Mio m3 stones and gravel expected to be used in the construction

• Project entirely within the Natura 2000 sites

• Cost: 82 Mio EUR + 4 Mio EUR/annually for maintenance

Our response

• Participation in all legal procedures (SEA, EIA, NIA) concerning the project

• Initiating court procedures against the project

• Complaints to EU Commission

• S.O.S Sava declaration – signed by 16 NGOs

• Developing alternative vision for the Sava – Sava White Book (river restoration and protection as primary goal)