Table 1. A list of Swedish dams and rivers subjected to/considered for restoration and the issues involved in the process. Name River Height (m) Built Removed Original use Reason for removal/compromise Gate kvarndamm Gatebäcken 3 1880 Not removed Water mill Facilitate fish passage Issues: The dam owners wanted to keep their lake and were not in favor of a removal without compensation. Financial difficulties because of expensive consultants led to a compromise in the form of a fish passage. This later came to nothing, and the dam was left intact.   Forsby power station Testeboån 4.8 1927 2005 Electricity (400 kW) Facilitate fish passage Issues: The power company and local politicians opposed removal and argued that removal would trigger a chain reaction leading to dam removals all over Sweden. Some years later, the power station was no longer profitable, and extensive dam renovations were required. A removal was agreed upon. Adjacent neighbors opposed removal to the very end mainly because they feared a dried-up ditch would result.   Unnefors dam Nissan 2.3 1924 2007 Sawmill/ electricity Facilitate fish passage Issues: Adjacent neighbors wanted to keep the impoundment for recreational purposes. The dam owner, a sawmill company, was opposed to removal at first but changed its mind when a second alternative was presented. They had one condition: that the natural channel be redug further to the northeast to provide the mill with an extended timber yard in the former impoundment.   Kuba dam Nätraån 3 1974 2007 Storage reservoir for process water used in factories Abandoned dam, facilitate fish passage and reproduction of freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) Issues: The local fishing organization had been advocating the removal of this dam for many years but was not able to raise the money needed. The county administration eventually wrote a petition, and funding and permission were granted.   Bultfallet Kolbäcksån 4.2 1923 Replaced Electricity (800 kW) Abandoned dam Issues: The power company got permission to remove the dam, which was abandoned and decaying, but the municipal council was concerned with cultural-historical values. The cultural committee strongly opposed a removal, and local inhabitants were afraid that the scenery would change dramatically after a removal. The old dam was eventually removed and replaced with a new one.   Bruksfallet Kolbäcksån 4.3 1906 Replaced Electricity (900 kW) Abandoned dam Issues: Same as above.   Rödå dam Rödån 4.5 1940 Not removed Water mill/ electricity Increase biodiversity, facilitate fish passage Issues: The dam owner strongly opposes a removal and continues to put up resistance.   Åman lower dam Åman 5 1940 Not removed Electricity Electricity production too profitable Issues: Removal is probably not possible because of high electricity production. The construction of a fish passage is under discussion.   Åman upper dam Åman 6.5 1940 Not removed Electricity Electricity production too profitable Issues: Same as above.   Emsfors dam Emån 3.5 Not known Not removed Electricity Facilitate fish passage, increase biodiversity Issues: The former dam owner refused to agree to necessary environmental measures. The new dam owner agreed to a removal, but an adjacent property owner is now impeding the process by trying to get compensation. There are also concerns regarding the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) population, which is one of the few remaining in Sweden; a complete removal would have to include extensive work to maintain a suitable catfish habitat.   Franshammars dam Harmångersån Not known 1918 2002 Water mill/ electricity Facilitate fish passage Issues: Adjacent neighbors were concerned about low water levels upstream if the dam were removed. Hälsingland Museum claimed that the dam had historical value and should have been left intact.   Sörtjärns dam Harmångersån Not known Not known 2002 Water mill Facilitate fish passage Issues: Same as above.   Hisjö dam Visboån/Flysån 3 Not known 2007 Electricity Increase biodiversity Issues: There were no obstacles.   Hillman’s mill Norralaån 2.8 1912 Not removed Water mill/ electricity Facilitate fish passage Issues: In 2006, a fish passage was built so that the dam could be conserved for tourism.   Sunnäs factory Tvärån 4 1696 Not removed Forge/ sawmill Increase biodiversity Issues: The forge and the adjacent mansion are both classified as cultural heritage sites, so dam removal was not an option. The fish passage that was built in 2005 blends in esthetically with its surroundings. There was no opposition because of good communication, and a solution was found that appealed to everyone involved.   Kvarn dam Söderhamnsån 1.5 1751 Not removed Water mill Facilitate fish passage Issues: The cultural committee and the environmental departments at the municipal office and the county administration worked closely together so that upcoming problems could be solved without opposition or conflicts.   Långbo dam Skärjån 2 1918 Not removed Water mill/ sawmill/ electricity Facilitate fish passage, increase biodiversity Issues: The removal of this dam is still under discussion, and an optimal solution is hard to find. The dam is located very close to the main road. Even though it is in bad condition, the village association would like to keep it. Any future fish passage must be designed to take the location into account.