The River Acheloos’ Diversion Project for Rehabilitation of Water Resources

Abstract

This is the case of the old dream of diverting the river Acheloos. Planning for this started back in 1920 but, mainly due to the lack of funds, it was never realized until the late 1980’s when funding was sought throught the EEC. This gigantic project is aimed at irrigating Thessaly’s vast plain using the waters of the upper Acheloos coming from the northwestern mountainous area of the Pindos range. This range forms the backbone of Continental Greece, and it is the principal watershed dividing the country into an eastern and a western hydrological system. The Acheloos, on the western side of the watershed, flows first through mountainous country covered with thick forests of conifers and beech-trees, and then, alternately, through oak forests and Mediterranean macchia. The presence of trout, dippers, otters, roedeer and other mammals is an indicator of the good state of the natural environment of the upper Acheloos.