The conservation organisation WWF presented results of one year's work, which showed possibilities to solve problems caused by the Wloclawek dam on the Vistula river. A comparative assessment based on economic, social and environmental criteria proved that building a new Nieszawa dam downnstream would not solve most of the problems, and would even increase some of them. Two other options have to be treated seriously – either decommissioning of the old dam or complex modernisation.
The decommissioning option got the highest score, not just due to environmental criteria, but also social and economic. This option is seven times cheaper than that of constructing a new dam. The latter would have to be co-financed in at least 30 % by the state to be feasible for commercial investors.
"Experts hired by WWF conclude these are the options which allow for significant state budget savings. At the same time these solutions guarantee people’s safety and avoid loss of natural river values,” said Jacek Engel, Vistula project leader. "The comparative analysis shows that decommissioning or full modernisation of the Wloclawek dam are better and more sustainable solutions than supporting one dam by another.”
The team of experts on hydro-technical construction, hydrology, economy, regional development, power industry, and ecology, assessed economic, social and environmental consequences of all considered options. This was the first time such a study was based on recommendations of the World Commission on Dams announced in November 2000. The Commission recommends assessment of the functioning of existing dams to determine profitability compared to that which was forecast at the project planning stage.
In July 2000 a governmental group of experts expressed their opinion on a new Nieszawa dam project and recommended alternatives be examined. Aware that the new dam might increase problems caused by the existing Wloclawek dam, WWF started work last year on a "Study of Solutions for the Wloclawek dam and Reservoir Problems: Prognosis of Environmental Consequences”.
Due to Polish and EU legal requirements of the environmental impact assessment, the assumption was made that none of the alternatives should be rejected before completing a full analysis.
"The Wloclawek dam and reservoir will still be a source of problems and threats as well as burden on the state budget, whether or not new dams on the Vistula River are going to be constructed," said Ireneusz Chojnacki, WWF Poland Programme Director. "The WWF study should support the Polish government in making rational decisions, which would be favourable for tax payers and take into account the role of the Vistula River in the modern, sustainable development of Poland and whole Europe. (Source: WWF, December, 2001)
Information & Contact:
European Freshwater Programme
La Tour du Valat
Le Sambuc
13200 Arles
France
Head of the Programme:
Andreas Wurzer
Phone +33 4 90 97 26 93
