A 70-million-euro project could see locks constructed at the country’s biggest dam in Kaunas, allowing shipping to resume along Nemunas River.
The Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant was built 60 years ago and its dam has been a hurdle for waterway transport ever since. The place for a potential lock, however, was already marked and prepared during the construction of the dam itself.
“If we had a lock, starting by boat from Jurbarkas and crossing the Polish border through the Augustów Canal, we could reach all of Europe, the Black Sea and the North Sea,” said Vladimiras Vinokurovas, director of Lithuania’s Inland Waterways Directorate. “In terms of tourism and transportation, this could be quite interesting.”
In a lock chamber, the water depth is lowered or raised to meet the level at the other side of the dam, allowing further navigation along the river. If a lock is added to the dam of the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant, boats could travel unrestricted for 500 kilometres along the Nemunas‘ waterway.
According to Kaunas vice-mayor Andrius Palionis, the project is still being discussed. Initial estimated cost could reach 70 million euros.
The Kaunas Power Plant also plans to construct the so-called fish ladders to allow fish migration. However, environment specialists propose carrying out several research projects first due to the dubious effectiveness of the already existing ladders.
According to Jonė Leščinskaitė, a wildlife specialist at the country’s Ministry of Environment, certain problems could arise, such as fish not finding the ladder, or being unable to survive while navigating the Kaunas Reservoir (Kauno Marios).
Meanwhile, another initiative is carried out to encourage inland waterway shipping; infrastructure is already being built along the Kaunas–Klaipėda waterway to regulate water levels and ease navigation.
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