Donor: Open Rivers Programme (ORP)
Duration: 12 months
This project marked the first time that a systematic identification and assessment of dams and river barriers was conducted along one of Kosovo’s most important river systems – the White Drin basin. Implemented by Ecopana with support from the Open Rivers Programme, the initiative covered the main river and its key tributaries, including rivers in Istog, Klina, Peja, Deçan, Junik, and Gjakova.
The project combined remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis, drone surveys, and extensive field verification to map barriers and assess their ecological and hydromorphological impacts. While initial expectations estimated around 60 structures, the inventory identified 145 dams and barriers, revealing a far greater level of fragmentation than previously understood.
This unexpected finding triggered a deeper assessment of cumulative impacts, highlighting significant negative effects on river continuity, sediment transport, aquatic habitats, and overall river health. The results reshaped understanding of river degradation in Kosovo and raised critical questions regarding water management, flood risk, and ecosystem resilience.
Beyond mapping, the project strengthened national capacities in GIS and river assessment and created a central database that now serves as the foundation for prioritising barrier removal and future river restoration projects across the White Drin basin.
