Fish ladder Grave - Grave

Weirs and pumping stations make the Meuse more navigable and keep water levels under control, but for fish they’re often a barrier. To solve that, two fish ladders have been built in Grave. Together they make it possible for fish to continue their centuries-old migration between the Meuse and its tributaries.

The largest fish ladder is in the Meuse itself, near the weir. Here, a height difference of over three metres is bridged. It’s a stepped passage through which hundreds of fish swim each day, especially in spring and autumn. You can’t view it up close, but from the John S. Thompson Bridge you can see the current clearly when looking downstream, toward Grave.

Much more accessible is the smaller fish ladder at the Van Sasse pumping station. This station pumps water from the Raam river into the Meuse during high water. For fish, that would be an impossible obstacle, but thanks to the fish ladder, they can still find their way. Species like ide, barbel and roach use the passage, and eels also make their way through it. Salmon are released in the Meuse to restore the population, but you won’t often see them here. During high water, the current is spectacular to watch.

Photo fish ladder Meuse: wikimedia commons CC0
Photo fish ladder Raam: Eefke Peters via Land van Cuijk