Helsinki (News release) -- UPM has been working systematically for the benefit of stream waters since 2016. Over the years, the objectives have become more specific and UPM is involved not only in releasing streams, but also in promoting research to better monitor the positive changes in biodiversity after restoration activities.

From now on, UPM's stream water program will also include assessment of UPM-owned land areas in the catchment area. This means that forest management practices in the catchments of released or restored watercourses will be reassessed on a case-by-case basis.

"Water protection is part of sustainable forestry. We can influence water quality already in the catchment area, on the forest side. In addition to adequate buffer zones for water bodies, this may involve, for example, restoring peatlands", says Miika Laihonen, Senior Environmental Specialist at UPM Forest.

UPM's first own dam removal site was the old mill dam in Sapsokoski, which was demolished in 2020. The next site, the Arvajankoski dam in Jämsä, was demolished in summer 2022.

"The goal of the UPM stream water programme is to release and restore 500 kilometres of stream waters by 2030," says Mikael Rytkönen, Environmental Manager at UPM Energy, who coordinates UPM's stream water program.

The Arvajankoski dam was demolished in 2022. Monitoring the impacts of the restoration on fish stocks continues.

The aim is not only to free up watercourses, but also to improve biodiversity

The stream water program target was published in January 2023 and to date, 287 kilometres of watercourses have been released and restored. This number is calculated on the basis of UPM's financial contributions.

"The aim is not only to release watercourses, but also to enable the improvement of biodiversity in the freed-up water bodies," Rytkönen points out.

Various organisms along watercourses also benefit from the removal of migration barriers. To ensure the desired effects, we have also wanted to invest in monitoring. In the autumn of 2024, an eDNA (environmental DNA) project was launched in the Ala-Kelvänjoki River in Lieksa, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The project aims to determine the effects of removing migration barriers on the basis of water samples alone. The study is part of the joint Nordic NorthDIVeRSITY project.

The Ala-Kelvänjoki River was one of four dam removal projects co-funded by UPM's stream water program last year. Other sites included the Seinäkoski (now Tammenkoski) dam on the Rutajoki River in Joutsa, the Virtaankoski dam in Sysmä and the Kuusinkijoki River in Kuusamo.

Of the dam removal and restoration projects, the Virtaankoski dam in Sysmä is now complete and the Kuusinkijoki River in Kuusamo is currently ongoing. In early 2025, UPM also donated money to the Savonlinna Linnanvirta restoration project, which was completed in the spring.

"There are several dam removal projects underway and the work towards the 500 km target continues," says Rytkönen.

UPM's stream water program projects 2016-2025:

2016-2018: Harjavalta fish hatchery, Multia-Viitasaari bridge drum project, piloting of the Kalasydän project in the Kemijoki, restoration of the Laurinvirta River.

2019: Natural Resources Institute Finland's (Luke) Umbrella III project, which aimed to rebuild migratory fish stocks in constructed rivers.

2020-2022: Piloting of the smolt heart project in Taivalkoski on the Kemijoki River, the Oulu River water management project, the restoration of the Mustanjoki River in Savonlinna and the fisheries restoration of Sapsokoski in Sotkamo. Sapsokoski and Arvajankoski dam removals and rapids restoration.

2023: Preliminary study for the rehabilitation of the Saapaskoski canal in Joensuu, donation to the Ritakoski dam removal and renovation project in Hiitolanjoki, Rautjärvi. Renovation projects in Mustanjoki, Savonlinna, and Ylävedenpuro in Suonenjoki. Fish monitoring in the Arvaja water course continued thanks to funding from the UPM stream water program. Monitoring started at Sapsokoski in Sotkamo.

2024: UPM's stream water program was involved in funding four dam removal projects: the Ala-Kelvänjoki River in Lieksa, the Seinäkoski River in Joutsa, the Virtaankoski River in Sysmä and the Kuusinkijoki River in Kuusamo. Involved in the renovation of Savonlinna's Mustanjoki, Suonenjoki's Ylävedenpuro and Multia's Sarapuro. The follow-up project to the Oulu River water vision progressed and we also participated in the eDNA research project for the skunk on the Kemijoki and Iijoki rivers. In August, UPM employees did restoration work on UPM's own land at Rapuoja, Karkkila. The NorthDIVeRSITY project started in the Ala-Kelvänjoki.

2025: The monitoring of the Arvajankoski and Sapsokoski rivers, the eDNA project in the Ala-Kelvänjoki River and the lamprey eDNA research project continue. Luke's Umbrella IV project started. Also involved in the Virtaankoski and Kuusinkijoki dam removal projects, and the Savonlinna Linnanvirta restoration project.