Our beloved Three Stars River Erymanthos is endangered. There are plans to dam the creek (above the Foreplay to the Rock´n Roll Canyon). The locals (of Tripotama and other villages) are protesting and were successful in so far, as the dam-project is currently (?) postponed and will be revaluated now under new aspects like environmental and recreational benefits. Knowing the mechanismes of power, money and politics, I have however little hope. I wonder whether we (European and Greek) paddlers can help. I paddled circa 500 rivers all over the world. I have seen a lot, and yet I am convinced that Greece comes top of the list. I do not know better rivers then those in Greece. Now, they are proposing 200 new mini-power-stations all over Greece, which will add not even 1% to the country´/s energy production. What a poor trade-off for the environmental damage and visual pollution! What a desecration of natural ressources, which, if left untouched, would benefit the nation far more! What a prize for progress! Even the smallest rivulets, which dry out in summer, are not spared (see Lambia Creek or Vistritsa). Many believe, that mini-hydro-power-stations are nothing but a transient, fashionable, ineffective and expensive appearance of our time, fostered by EU-funds in a (partly understandable but vain) attempt to squeeze the last drops out of available things like streams and streamlets. What a waste of money and destruction of nature on behalf of growth, capital and seemingly green politics.

Let us try to save Erymanthos!

Since more than 20 years boaters from every corner of Europe paddle the Erymanthos. They hold it for one of the 8 most beautiful rivers of Greece. Everybody would appreciate, if the Greek authorities should turn the Erymanthos into a National Park (along with such other wonders of nature like the Acheron, Krikellopotamos, Kallaritikos-Arachthos, upper Mornos, Lousios-Alfios, Selinous and the Mileapotamos). An adjacent walking track (like those along the Acheron, Vikos River and Bear Creek of the Aoos) would do the Erymanthos good. Then people would understand, that they can not sacrifice the last gems of their country to the ephemeral and false godesses of economic growth.

Much of our camp fire discussion has been about the ugly new gauges that are appearing around rivers like mushrooms. Every year there are more of them. Even the smallest creeks are not spared. Money flows instead of water. Manipulated bills turn most of these dam-projects into donations. The mini-power-stations don´t need to be efficient, they need to be paid for, that´s all. The tax-payers are betrayed as well as all those who will miss the primeval rivers. It is not only the dry river bed, which scars the landscape. More severe are the dam structures themselves: the diversion pipes, the overhead power cables, the accompanying roadwork. This earthwork is destabilising slopes and whole canyons. Rubble is burying and killing the vegetation underneath. Any mayor rainstorm, flood or earthquake can trigger a catastrophe (like the big one of Langarone/Italy). Rock avalanches and landslides can and will result and will continue to destroy roads and pipes (like with the Inachos in 2005) regularly.

I want to thank the people of Tripotama and of the other villages around the Erymanthos. They have stood up and out, when they said "Ouchi" ("No") to plans to dam their river. The plan is currently put on ice and decisions postponed, but nobody knows for how long. Let us join the people of the Erymanthos and protect the "Protector" (for this is what Erymanthos means in the old Greek language). Let us write letters to newspapers, publish the problem and discuss things in the internet, contact the ministery and whoever might be involved. Don´t be coy! Let us do our duty. It is not enough to use, run and enjoy these rivers, we also need to stand up and fight for them (along with the local people) if necessary. In the annexe you find some pictures of the Erymanthos. Maybe some journalist gets interested in the story of the river (and the problems caused by mini dams).

Regards, Franz Bettinger

Webmaster's note: Franz Bettinger is the author of Greco whitewater guidebook, which second part has just been published.

Help us save the Erymanthos and the rest of the Greek wild rivers from the hydroelectric beast! Join the circle of Greek River Friends!