In recent days, the construction of the fish pipeline on the so-called lower weir on the Turiec River has been approved. The weir is located at river kilometer 7.530 in the urban area of the city of Martin and is one of the two weirs that prevent fish migration to a large part of the Turiec river basin. The fish pipeline was implemented as an inner-channel stream ramp. The aquatic environment of the fish pipeline should allow migration of all native fish species of the grayling zone. For larger species of fish, including huchen, a depth with higher water velocities should serve, for smaller individuals and weaker fish species, a shallower environment with slower water is created. There are resting boulders in the fish pipeline, which also slow down the speed of the current, as well as two relaxing bays that can be used by fish to overcome it. In the spring months, in time when most of our fish are pulling to spawn, the SOP SR in cooperation with the SRZ will carry out monitoring on the basis of which the real functionality of the fish pipeline will be determined.
The construction of the fish pipeline is to serve to connect fish stocks in the Turiec River basin with the Váh River. To meet this goal, it is also necessary to open the second weir, which is located about 1.5 kilometers upstream of the Turiec River. A similar type of fish pipeline is designed on this weir, the building permit procedure is currently underway, the implementation of the construction is planned for 2020. If both fish pipelines are fully functional, we expect an improvement in the state of populations of native fish species in the Turiec River basin, which is protected at the national and international level as an important wetland site.
The barriers in the lower part of the Turiec River in the city of Martin have been given the highest priority for passability, thanks to which the Danube huchens will be able to use the connection of the habitats of the Turiec and Váh rivers and, in the case of the passage of the Krpelany Dam, the Orava River. This will connect up to 3 areas of European importance that have a common subject of protection – the Danube huchen.
Banded goby (Cottus poecilopus)
Danube huchen ( Hucho hucho)
Bull ( Leuciscus cephalus )
Text: Ing. Andrej Súľovský, Ing. Juraj Žiak
Photo: M. Apfelová, A. Súľovský
