South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation

International Funding for river Hiitolanjoki

The European Open Rivers Programme joined Hiitolanjoki’s major financiers. This ensures the demolition of the last power dam at Ritakoski. The Open Rivers Programme is a grant giving organisation dedicated to restoring rivers. Hiitolanjoki’s Ritakoski is the first aid target of the Open Rivers Programme in Finland.

Ritakoski power plant and River Hiitolanjoki before the restoration on 26 July, 2023. Photo: Mikko Nikkinen.

The restoration of nature has been discussed in Europe for the past year. Most of the rivers in Europe are dammed for power generation or for other reasons. Around one million bigger or smaller have been built in Europe, which has put river ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them, such as migratory fish, under great threat. Now dams are being dismantled in many places, and funding is needed for that. Free-flowing undammed rivers provide a habitat for many plant and animal species.

The demolition and restoration project of the River Hiitolanjoki’s three dams in Rautjärvi is a major breakthrough in Finland. Hiitolanjoki has also attracted a lot of interest internationally, now also in the form of funding. The demolition of the dam of the last power plant in Ritakoski rapids can be ensured when the Open Rivers Programme has joined the financiers, awarding a grant of 100,000 euros to the South Karelian Foundation for Recreation Areas. The Open Rivers Programme started in 2021 and was established to restore endangered European rivers by supporting interventions that lead to the removal of small dams and the restoration of river flow and biodiversity. Hiitolanjoki’s Ritakoski is the first aid target of the Open Rivers Programme in Finland.

In addition to this, in the end of July the international forest company UPM Oyj announced a donation of 50,000 euros to Ritakoski rapids from its Share and Care Program. The total cost estimate for Ritakoski’s restoration work is around 700,000 euros. The other financiers enabling the demolition of Ritakoski and the two presious power dams are the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (main financier), the Southern Karelia Savings Bank Foundation, WWF, Metsä Group’s Nature Program, South Karelia Cooperative Bank, the Raija and Ossi Tuuliainen Foundation, Lähitapiola incurance company and several private financiers.

Ritakoski hydro power plant dam to be demolished and River Hiitolanjoki on 26 July, 2023. Photo: Mikko Nikkinen / Storymakers.

Contact information:
Hanna Ollikainen
toimitusjohtaja, CEO
+358 40 823 5105
hanna.ollikainen@ekvas.fi

Follow dam removal and restoration of Lahnasenkoski rapids

This article contains pictures from the Hiitolanjoki Lahnasenkoski construction site. Follow the construction site here – moving around the construction site is strictly prohibited to ensure the safety of all parties! Walking on the scenic path is also prohibited.

The turbines of the Lahnasenkoski power plant, which started in 1911, stopped finally on July 31, 2022.

The construction site already started in July, before the end of the power plant’s operation, with the preparation of construction sites and the start of the work dam.

Preparations are being made to dismantle the turbines, the turbine chamber of the power plant must be allowed to dry. Photos by Hanna Ollikainen

The power plant’s turbines were removed on 15 August 2022 with the help of StoraEnso’s experts, thanks to them for their volunteer work! Photos by Hanna Ollikainen

Lahnasenkoski construction site, water runs through the silenced power plant and the dam can be dismantled. Photo Mikko Nikkinen 19 August 2022

The dam disappears from the landscape. Photos by Mikko Nikkinen 23 August 2022

Ritakoski and Kangaskoski acquired ownership of South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation

The long-prepared and negotiated acquisition of Ritakoski and Kangaskoski in Hiitolanjoki was completed on October 29th, 2019, when the South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation acquired the entire share capital of Hiitolanjoki Voima Oy. Hiitolanjoen Voima Oy is now a subsidiary of the Recreation Area Foundation.

The company owns the buildings and dam structures of the power plants and the properties on which they are located. The Hiitolanjoki river restoration project is proceeding as planned, the power dams will be dismantled and the rapids will be restored, creating plenty of new breeding ground for the Ladoga salmon and trout, and opening up free access to the extensive estuarine waters.

Restoration begins in Kangaskoski

After the design and licensing work, the dismantling of the dams will begin on the lowest barrier elevation, Kangaskoski, in 2021. Each year, work will be carried out at one of the rapids: dismantling and restoration of the Lahnasenkoski dam in 2022 and Ritakoski in 2023. Electricity production will continue at every rapid until its demolition

A multi-year project and several stakeholders in the background

In addition to the authorities, a number of foundations, associations, companies and individuals participate in the Hiitolanioki project. In the end, a state commitment ensured the completion of the project. Sipilä Government’s environmental policy – In addition to financing the project, the purchase and restoration of power plants was supported by a number of public and private donors. To date, WWF Finland and foundation Lassi Leppinen, Savings Bank of South Karelia Foundation, Municipality of Rautjärvi, Simpeleen Osuuspanki, person anonymous, Raija and Ossi Tuulainen Foundation, insurance company Lähi Tapiola, ELY Center, Union of South Karelia, Teemu Juutinen private investor, Ahti Invest Oy and Signal Partners Oy.

More information

Hanna Ollikainen, Managing Director of South Karelia Recreational Area Foundation, hanna.ollikainen@ekarjala.fi, 0408235105
Matti Vaittinen, Environmental Manager of the South Karelia Federation, matti.vaittinen@ekarjala.fi, +358 40 139 0173