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“Balkanka” Association and the Efforts to Protect Bulgarian Rivers – Sharing Experience

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“Balkanka” Association and the Efforts to Protect Bulgarian Rivers – Sharing Experience “Balkanka” association and the efforts to protect Bulgarian Rivers – sharing experience. Pencho Pandakov, 2017 “Fishing Club Balkanka” association was found in 2013 by a group of about 25 anglers. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, registered in Bulgaria for action in public benefit. The main objectives of “Balkanka” are protection and restoration of Bulgarian rivers and river biodiversity, focused on fighting against the deadly impact of HPP on the natural river ecosystems. Some aspects of our work: We aim to inform the society about the infringements of the EU directives we register during our regular river visits. With the substantial help by a friend from WWF-Bulgaria, we managed to set up an internet platform http://dams.reki.bg/ - where we upload and expose all information that refers to commissioning, design, construction and operation of sHPP in Bulgaria. https://nova.bg/news/view/2017/11/12/198360/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B2-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-nova-%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D1%8A%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8 / Trying to resolve some of the problems in our country we have walked all possible paths, including: - Meetings with RBD management, with the Minister of Environment and Waters, with the Supreme Water Council and the Commission of Environment and Waters of the Parliament, where we exposed many documented infringements; - Active participation in every possible public debate concerning the hydropower devastating impact. We conveyed hundreds of signals for registered river destruction, reports, complaints, positions regarding investment projects, River basin management plans, violations of the law etc. We managed to achieve sympathy, empathy, consent, some small and some big victories..., but no considerable commitment by the Government institutions so far. All this forced us to inform the EU Commission that the Bulgarian state authorities responsible for the environmental protection are breaching EU law. Six consecutive complaints were lodged with DG Environment in the last two years. 29.06.2015 05.01.2016 29.06.2015 20.06.2016 14.01.2017 19.06.2017 HPP Siroko, Cherni Vit River, Natura 2000 site Centralen Balkan – Bufer BG0001493 HPP Hristo Peev, Yantra River, Natura 2000 area Yantra River BG0000610 sHPP Sveta Petka, Kriva river, Rila mountain sHPP Martinovo, Naydenitsa River, Natura 2000 area Zapaden Balkan BG0002002 sHPP Manastirska, Manastirska river, Natura 2000 area Zapadna Stara planina I Predbalkan BG0001040 HPP Davidkovo 1, Davidkovska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Sredni BG0001031 HPP Davidkovo 2, Davidkovska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Sredni BG0001031 HPP Slivka, Davidkovska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Sredni BG0001031 HPP Hladilnika, Davidkovska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Sredni BG0001031 HPP Zabardo, Zabardska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Zapadni BG0001030 HPP Giovren, Trigradska river, Natura 2000 area Rodopi – Zapadni BG0001030 There are two fundamental regulatory documents that still do not exist in Bulgaria: 1. Ordinance on fish passes design, maintenance and monitoring -. Under the Bulgarian Fishery and Aquaculture Act, owners of water abstraction facilities /no matter existing or designed at present, for HPP purpose or other/ must provide options for the migration of the fish and the other aquatic species, by planning and building up fish passes, fit for the purpose. - The Minister of Agriculture and Foods and the Minister of Environment and Waters must have released the Ordinance on Fish passes within a period of one year after the FA Act was published. 10 years later it is still not available. As a result - in order to save costs, many fictitious fish passes are built, impassable even by experienced climbers. 2. Methodology for minimum residual water flow /E-flow/ determination - The deadline is the same (one year after the Water Act was published). 10 years later the Methodology still does not exist. - The Water Act also claims that, until the methodology is released, the minimum residual flow is defined as 10% of the average multiannual /long term/ flow, but not less than the minimum average monthly flow within 95% reliability. Case study: Pchelina Dam / Struma River system Protected area: Zemen (BG0001012) Case study: Iliyna River Protected area: Rilski manastir (BG0000496); Rila Monastery Natural Park Here is the P.S. of our letter to the EBRD on the matter Sorry, forgot the message from the fishermen’s gathering. Here it is: “Dear friends from the EBRD, For all we know, the EBRD operates with the public resources of the European Union, collected among all the European taxpayers. It means that part of those finances come out of our pockets hence we have the right to an opinion You have financed several hydropower plants here alright, killed the life in several rivers, where the damage caused is irreparable. If you are in such a need for hydropower, look for it in your own countries, please! If there are no rivers to kill anymore at home, look for it wherever else you like, but not in our country! Here you are not welcome anymore. If you can’t help it - check as thorough as you can for every case the legal viability, before you try to kill a single river here again. Otherwise we’ll meet in court, every time you try to kill the next! Stay Away From Our Rivers! ” After this letter the EBRD cancelled a 2.5 million € grant Case study: Botunya River Protected area: Bilernitsite (BG0000593) Case study: Gold mining intention in Tran municipality Protected area: Ruy (BG0000313) Case study: Rumyantsevo - 2 sHPP at Zlatna Panega River Protected area: Карлуково (BG0001014) CUMULATIVE EFFECTS – 35 pieces• Blue dotson 120km – of the Iskar operational HPP River • Yellow dots – future HPP Thank you!.
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