Ecological flow assessment for the Aoos River below the Aoos Springs Reservoir Dam

The construction of the Aoos Springs dam in 1987, part of a key hydroelectric infrastructure project and artificial reservoir, completely cut off water flow to the river’s downstream section, triggering a cascade of severe ecological impacts.

The study highlights the urgent need to restore ecological flow at the Aoos Springs dam. Key findings include:

• With no ecological flow from the Aoos Springs dam, the once free-flowing river has been reduced to a narrow stream just 1.3 meters wide. This has triggered drastic hydromorphological changes and severely degraded the surrounding riparian ecosystem.
• The absence of ecological flow has caused drastic habitat loss and a significant decline in fish diversity and populations—particularly affecting species like the Balkan trout (Salmo farioides), which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
• These impacts are most critical during the dry summer months and extend into the Northern Pindos National Park and three Natura 2000 sites, raising urgent concerns under current climate crisis conditions.

FULL STUDY: Ecological flow assessment for the Aoos River below the Aoos Springs Reservoir Dam