Almost all liming of watercourses in Dalarna, aimed at protecting sensitive species, could end under a proposal from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. The County Administrative Board of Dalarna sharply criticizes the plan, warning that species could be wiped out permanently. The new assessment method would reduce the number of acidified watercourses from 43 percent to one percent.
A consultation document from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (HaV) proposes new criteria for assessing acidification of watercourses, which would drastically impact liming in Dalarna. Currently, 43 percent of Dalarna's watercourses are classified as acidified, but under the new method, only one percent would qualify. This relies on a model that better distinguishes natural acidity from acid rain effects, according to SLU researcher Jens Fölster.
The County Administrative Board of Dalarna is strongly critical. "It could cause species to be wiped out and disappear forever," says unit manager Ann-Louise Haglund. Liming occurs at 85 sites in Dalarna for about 10 million SEK annually, part of the national total of 165 million SEK. The proposal would cut the national budget to roughly one-third.
Other counties like Blekinge, Kalmar, Skåne, and Kronoberg are most affected. For sensitive species like the freshwater pearl mussel, exemptions might be granted, but Fölster warns of long-term liming dependency. "It might be better to manage populations in other waters," he says. HaV will decide on the proposals in 2026.
