Referring to the results of the environmental impact assessment, Leelo Kukk, Deputy General Director of the Environmental Board in the field of living nature, acknowledges that this impact is extensive and long-term and cannot be mitigated. “Damming water and the production of electricity damage the habitats of salmon, river lamprey, bullhead and thick shelled river mussel,” she explained.
Natura assessment is necessary because the existing water permit of Wooluvabrik OÜ for damming water and production of electricity in Linnamäe is about to expire and the company is applying for a new water permit to continue its activity. However, such activities have to be in line with the conservation objectives of the Natura site. In order to consider the possibility and conditions of issuing a new water permit, it is necessary to analyze the environmental impact of the activities.
The processing of a new water permit will continue once the Environmental Board will have collected and analyzed the feedback on the draft assessment of Natura. Until then, the existing water permit of Wooluvabrik OÜ will be extended until 30 June 2022. The Environmental Board is waiting for proposals for the draft assessment of Natura within two months, until 7 February 2022 at info@keskkonnaamet.ee. The materials are available on the website of the Environmental Board.
Leelo Kukk said that it is also possible to apply for a derogation from the Natura 2000 network if the three requirements specified in the Habitats Directive are met: there are no alternatives to electricity generation, there is an overriding public interest in electricity generation and damming, and sufficient compensatory measures can be taken to ensure the protection of nature values. "However, none of these three preconditions have been met in case of Linnamäe dam, and therefore, according to the Environmental Board, the implementation of the Natura derogation is not possible," said Leelo Kukk.
Damming rivers has endangered diadromous fish populations across Europe. Thus, keeping the Jägala River free of migration barriers upstream of the Linnamäe dam and restoring natural habitats is important not only in Estonia but also from the pan-European point of view. “This autumn, when the dam was being repaired, people who happened to visit Linnamäe were once again able to enjoy the waterfalls typical of the Jägala River, which are otherwise hidden under the dam,” said Leelo Kukk.
In order to achieve the nature conservation goals, the damming of water and the production of electricity in Linnamäe must be stopped. However, the Environmental Board is of the opinion that it is possible to preserve the Linnamäe dam, which is protected as a monument.
Further information:
Leelo Kukk
Deputy Director General of the Environmental Board in the field of wildlife
5559 7705.
leelo.kukk@keskkonnaamet.ee
