Kosovo is preparing to remove the obsolete Mirusha Dam, opening up 35 kilometres of river habitat and restoring free-flowing conditions along a river that ecological surveys have identified as a biodiversity hotspot. The Mirusha River flows through an area of high ecological and landscape value and is connected downstream to the Mirusha Waterfalls Nature Monument, a nationally protected area that depends on the river's natural flow regime. According to the Open Rivers Programme, which is funding the demolition project with local organisation Ecopana, surveys recorded 157 animal species in the river, including 83 aquatic species. The project is expected to reconnect approximately 113 kilometres of river habitat in total when tributaries are included, consisting of 35 kilometres upstream of the dam and 78 kilometres downstream. The removal is scheduled to take place between September 2026 and January 2027 and is intended to restore natural flow and sediment transport, improve water quality and allow fish to move through habitat currently blocked by the dam. This ambitious restoration project demonstrates how removing outdated infrastructure can meaningfully reconnect fragmented ecosystems, offering valuable lessons for broader river restoration efforts throughout Europe.
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