More dams planned

If the proposed plans for damming Þjórsá will go through there will be a net of dams and factories all the way from Kelvin to Landmannalaugar, says Ómar Ragnarsson, journalist and environmentalist. According to him other and more important areas are in danger and environmentalists have to prioritize.

If the Alcan Aluminum plant in Straumsvík will be enlarged then three dams will be built in Þjórsá next year which will create lagoons. The preparation has already begun and the farmer at the farm next to Árnes where a dam will be built was informed three weeks ago that he has to leave his land. Iceland Nature Conservation Association has not yet made a statement about the constructions but dissent is growing among locals.

Ómar says that environmentalists have a serious task ahead of them since so many places around Reykjavik are in danger of being dammed, such as Brennisteinsfjöll, Innstidalur, Ölkelduháls and Grændalur.