Restoration Gotland is a project to investigate the possibility of treating oxygen-free areas in the Baltic Sea while simultaneously improving the water quality of two bays on Gotland.

Activated limestone has successfully been tested in Östergötland and on Åland to reduce phosphorus content in coastal bays and, through this, decrease eutrophication. Since limestone is found in abundance on Gotland, we would like to test this method in two selected bays on the island.

The first step in the project is to evaluate whether activated limestone can be used effectively to remove phosphorus in the two selected bays. Race For The Baltic, via a local external consultant, will conduct water quality tests and collect sediment samples over the course of one year. If the results prove positive for limestone treatment, the project will proceed with spreading activated limestone across 50 hectares and installing a sediment trap at the outflow of a river flowing into one of the bays.

The expected outcome of the project is two-fold: binding phosphorus and thereby improving the environmental status of the two bays, and testing the use of activated limestone at greater depths. Through this project, we hope to establish an additional method for addressing the internal nutrient load in the Baltic Sea.

Projektaktiviteter

• Testing 50 hectares and one river mouth for possible treatment with activated limestone

• Spreading of activated limestone across 50 hectares

• Placement of a phosphorus trap at the river mouth flowing into one of the bays

• Developing an additional method to reduce the internal nutrient load in the Baltic Sea