Jyväskylä restores river rapids near city center to welcome migratory fish

Jyväskylä has restored a section of the Tourujoki river into natural rapids as part of an over €8 million project, Yle reports. The dammed river has been returned close to its natural state, with a new, meandering 300-meter channel built near the city center.

The project is the first of its kind in Finland, where a dammed river has been converted into rapids with a new channel constructed so close to an urban area. Work focused on the upper and middle sections of the nearly 3 km-long river, which flows from Palokkajärvi to Jyväsjärvi.

Specialist input ensured the restoration would suit migratory fish, with a fish expert guiding excavator work stone by stone. The new rapids feature stone sills and resting pools, each raising the water level by 25 cm, allowing fish to climb and rest before continuing upstream.

Old dam and canal structures from the 1940s, originally built for a paper mill, were partially demolished. A protected 1920s switching station remains, and floodwaters are still directed through the old canal during high flow. The challenging work involved managing water flow between the old and new channels, complicated by the fine, silt-based soil and steep terrain.

Nature has already claimed the restored river. Small fish are rising, otters have been spotted sliding down the rapids, and elk tracks have been seen. Kingfishers and white-throated dippers frequent the rapids, while the upper course now features natural meadows planted with native species to attract insects, providing food for fish.

The upper section is complete, with green plantings, edge stonework, and walking paths in place. The project also preserved the area’s natural seed bank by storing soil during construction, accelerating ecological recovery.