The feasibility studies for the two fish passages to be carried out within the FishForLife project have been completed. The two sites where the fish passages will be made are located in Albeni and Targu Carbunesti, near the road bridges over Gilort River. In the two points, in 2014 two spillway thresholds were built that do not allow upstream migration of fish species targeted by our project. In order to remedy this problem, it is necessary to change the configuration of the spillway thresholds and make properly dimensioned crossing passages within them to allow migration of targeted species.

In order to remedy this problem, it is necessary to change the configuration of the spillway thresholds and make properly dimensioned crossing passages within them to allow migration of targeted species.

At Albeni passage, the engineer suggests a Rock ramp crossing passage (photo below) and performing some recalibration works for the riverbed, in order to reduce the flow speed (e.g. reducing the slope of the riverbed). To achieve that, embankment, sand and gravel will be used, which will be placed in the riverbed, and works to consolidate and stabilize the banks will be carried out, as well as planting riparian vegetation downstream the spillway threshold.

At Targu Carbunesti, the overflow threshold is 55 m long and 4.5 m high. The works proposed here to modify the anthropic barrier include a pool and weir pass type crossing passage (photo below), which will be achieved either through making a drainage slope on a length large enough to allow fish to cross the area, either through a system of resting pools, hydraulic jump basins and communicating channels with small slope between pools.

The purpose of fish passages is to restore the connectivity of Gilort River over a distance of 116 km. The works would allow long-term recovery of fish populations within Natura 2000 site Gilort River, as well as the recovery of extinct species. Fish passages are part of activity C1- Build two fish passages to restore habitat connectivity on Gilort River.