Abstract

As the values and power relations in the world change, so do the desires regarding water use and recreation. The general appreciation and debate emphasize the importance of rivers and their role in ecosystem functions. Dismantling of dams is seen as one way to restore the diversity of watercourses and, in particular, the natural life cycle of migratory fish. However, in practice, it is evident that other factors besides their ecological benefits influence dam removal decisions. In the past, the large dams suffered from a monodisciplinary view on storing water only for electricity generation. The local population and the environment did not play a major role in the past. Dam removal is inherently transdisciplinary effort, multiple objectives are at stake and have to be addressed concurrently. A transdisciplinary approach is needed to address sustainable water management issues at a local to regional scale, this can be achieved in collaboration with various stakeholders. The main aim of this article is to show how to develop a framework that can support the decision-making process by accommodating the input of different stakeholders while increasing the transparency of the decision analysis process about the future of aging Finnish hydropower dams.