Advancing freshwater restoration

My Projects

Key project facts

Ecological Flows in Lithuanian Rivers in the Context of Anthropogenic Pressures and Climate Change
PhD research at the Lithuanian Energy Institute

• Rivers are vital ecosystems providing essential services, yet many in Lithuania are impacted by altered flow regimes and hydropeaking from hydropower operations.
• Achieving the goals of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires ecological flows that sustain healthy and resilient river ecosystems.
• This PhD research applies advanced modelling tools to define ecological flows that support healthier habitats in hydropower-regulated systems, especially under a changing climate.
  
  

Social Aspects of Free-Flowing Rivers in Lithuania
A case study within BIOTraCes project, led by Mykolas Romeris University, funded by Horizon Europe

• Barrier removal often raises concerns within local communities.
• The dam in Anykščiai, Lithuania, is prioritized for removal due to its significant ecological impact.
• This project examines the values, beliefs, and needs of the Anykščiai community to better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with biodiversity restoration, especially in the context of river restoration.
  
  

Dam Removal on the Bražuolė River, Lithuania
Completed with Lithuanian Fund for Nature; funded and supported by WWF Netherlands and Dam Removal Europe

• The Bražuolė River, a salmon river within the Natura 2000 network, contains valuable habitats for fish and other aquatic species.
• The project involved Lithuania’s first documented barrier removal, focusing on the first barrier fish encounter moving upstream from the sea.
• It received the Rimi Baltic Sustainability Award (Changemaker category) and was featured in the film Dambusters: The Start of the Riverlution (2022).

• What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?

  Projects aim to either enhance ecosystem health (e.g., by removing barriers that impact fluvial ecosystems), support the development of more sustainable policies (e.g., through research on ecological flows), or advance scientific understanding of ecological restoration (e.g., exploring the social aspects of rivers and dam removal).

• What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?

  One of the key challenges in environmental restoration lies in differing values, needs, and perspectives on managing rivers and hydrotechnical infrastructure. Effectively addressing these complexities requires prioritizing ecological needs politically, allocating adequate funding for ecological restoration, research, and monitoring, and fostering open, inclusive dialogue. Successful restoration depends on effective stakeholder and community engagement toward the shared goal of long-term ecosystem recovery.