Conflict over water extraction threatens rare species in Kolbäcksgropen

The County Administrative Board describes the species as very sensitive to changes in the water level. It is only found in a few places in Västmanland. In Kolbäcksgropen, it has been observed four times since 2009, but the inventory in August showed that the population had decreased further.

At the same time, the golf club has for decades taken water from the southern pond in Kolbäcksgropen to irrigate the course. A conflict between the county administration and Strömsholm's golf club about the irrigation - where the club had not notified the water withdrawal - had to be settled in court.

Today, the association has a permit for a limited water withdrawal.

- The legislation makes no difference as to whether the species has been planted or not, but only that it exists, says Isabella Segerström, biologist and water officer at the County Administrative Board in Västmanlands yet.

How should the public be able to assess the reasonableness of the decision when the county administrative board does not want to say which species it is about?

- In this case, the law supports that the survival of the species is more important than public transparency.

Expensive with solutions - the club hopes for a dam

The golf club is looking for alternative ways to irrigate the course when the water level in Kolbäcksgropen falls below the lowering limit of 25 centimeters.

- We are talking with the municipality about whether we can get some form of dam, so that the lowest level is always kept in the northern pond where the species is found, says Staffan Schmidt.

"It was a small shock" - come along to the golf course and hear from both the club and the county board about the situation that has arisen.