What about river protection?

It is sad to realise that everyday more and more rivers are destroyed by people, for the people. The construction of big dams has been slowed down the last 10 years in Greece, with only two great projects, still in progress: Mesohora dam and Sykia dam in Acheloos river. But two years ago, we witnessed the operation of the great Evinos dam, at Agios Dimitrios, that "stole" the water from Evinos to divert it through a tunnel in Mornos basin and from there to Athens. We then started to realise, what loosing a river trully means.

Then it was time for Inachos, to get dammed. A small hydroelectric work, that wouldn't spoil the river or the nature, they said.
But now, the water in Inachos gorge, vanished. The riverbed was completely altered by enbankments to build a site road along the works. There goes the river with the most exciting whitewater in Greece (according to Greco guidebook and I have no reason to disagree)

The red gorge of Aliakmon, is the next victim. The construction of the big dam, that will flatten the sole big water rapids in Greece, have already started. Any access to the gorge is taken by the worksite and running the section involves mandatory portage through the site, if a permission has previously been granted.

While we experience these first side effects, a new great project threatens Arachthos gorge and the historic bridge of Plaka. The new dam, is to be situated a few kms above the present basin, but its own basin will reach Plaka and the gorge. New studies are carrying out, to save these two landmarks.

Here arises a question: What is paddling community prepared to do about that? Are we taking everything for granted and paddle what's left?
Do we care whether we paddle in virgin and remote gorges, gasing to the unspoiled gorge walls, or we 'd rather have a road following along every river, even if that would have to carve those tall, so far unspoiled mountain slopes?
Would we not choose to camp to the beautiful grass terasses at the take out, beside those fine pieces of work and historic landmarks, that stone footbridges are, instead of shouldering our boats and walk through a major work site, feeling like trespassers?