Hydropower and its impacts Morača Basin, Montenegro-case study

1. Hydropower and its impactsMorača Basin, Montenegro-case study

2. The Skadar/Shkodra Lake - the largest trans-boundary water body in the Balkan Peninsula Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

3. Background ________________________ Complexity of habitats which shelter a high diversity of plants and animals Lake harbors around 1900 plant species, 54 freshwater mollusks, 54 fish species, 16 amphibians, 28 reptile, 282 bird and 57 mammal species Rainfalls in few months (spring and autumn) lead to flooding of flatlands on the northern and northeastern shores and greatly increases the number of habitats for the lake organisms providing extensive spawning and feeding areas for fish and aquatic birds 5490 km2 of drainage basin Primary source of water: Moraca River - 60% Primary outflows of water: Bojana/Buna River (41 km) into Adriatic sea Surface area: 370 km² - 530 km ² depending of the lake water level that varies seasonally from 4.7 to 8.3 m above sea Located in a karst terrain in the outer part of the south-eastern Dinaric Alps Shared between Montenegro (2/3) and Albania (1/3) Montenegro part is designated as National Park 1983, IBA in 1989 and included in the Ramsar list in1995 Albanian part is designated as Nature Management Reserve and Ramsar site in 2005 Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

4. Background ________________________ Complexity of habitats which shelter a high diversity of plants and animals Lake harbors around 1900 plant species, 54 freshwater mollusks, 54 fish species, 16 amphibians, 28 reptile, 282 bird and 57 mammal species Rainfalls in few months (spring and autumn) lead to flooding of flatlands on the northern and northeastern shores and greatly increases the number of habitats for the lake organisms providing extensive spawning and feeding areas for fish and aquatic birds 5490 km2 of drainage basin Primary source of water: Moraca River – 60% Primary outflows of water: Bojana/Buna River (41 km) into Adriatic sea Surface area: 370 km² - 530 km ² depending of the lake water level that varies seasonally from 4.7 to 8.3 m above sea Located in a karst terrain in the outer part of the south-eastern Dinaric Alps Shared between Montenegro (2/3) and Albania (1/3) Montenegrin part is designated as National Park 1983, IBA in 1989 and included in the Ramsar list in1995 Albanian part is designated as Nature Management Reserve and Ramsar site in 2005 Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

5. Background ________________________ Complexity of habitats which shelter a high diversity of plants and animals Lake harbors around 1900 plant species, 54 freshwater mollusks, 54 fish species, 16 amphibians, 28 reptile, 282 bird and 57 mammal species Rainfalls in few months (spring and autumn) lead to flooding of flatlands on the northern and northeastern shores and greatly increases the number of habitats for the lake organisms providing extensive spawning and feeding areas for fish and aquatic birds 5490 km2 of drainage basin Primary source of water: Moraca River – 60% Primary outflows of water: Bojana/Buna River (41 km) into Adriatic sea Surface area: 370 km² - 530 km ² depending of the lake water level that varies seasonally from 4.7 to 8.3 m above sea Located in a karst terrain in the outer part of the south-eastern Dinaric Alps Shared between Montenegro (2/3) and Albania (1/3) Montenegrin part is designated as National Park 1983, IBA in 1989 and included in the Ramsar list in1995 Albanian part is designated as Nature Management Reserve and Ramsar site in 2005 Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

7. Consumers Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

8. History of dams on Morača ________________ • Physical Plan and Energy Development Strategy of Montenegro are planning 4 hydroelectric power dams on the River Moraca • Draft plan-water transfer from Tara to Moraca • The Energy Development Strategy was adopted in December 2007 • Low on Strategic Environmental Assessment was adopted 2005, implementation postponed for 1st January 2008 • The PhysicalPlan was adopted in March 2008 (without a SEA) • The Action Plan for EDS has been adopted in October 2008 Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

9. Global Dams Initiative meeting, 06-08 June 2010, Kolasin, Montenegro

10. Campaign • MoE and MSPEP published a draft version of SEA and DSP for Moraca prepared by COWI • Public participation process 19 March – 13 April • WWF and GH launched campaign: Be wise, change a plan, 22 March • Petition

12. Participation on public debate and different events • Organized meetings and events • Press conferences • Collecting signature for petition in 9 cities in Montenegro • Hiking in canyon

13. Great media and public attention • Gathering 64 NGOs • Almost 15 000 petition signatures • Independent study Expert opinion on the SEA for DSP for HPPs on the Morača River • Comments on SEA

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