Smiltene to clean Lake Tiltleja bed and rebuild bridge

Work has begun to lower the water level in Lake Tiltleja in Smiltene, clearing the way for dredging of the lakebed as early as next week. The effort is part of the Smiltene Municipality project “Adaptation to Climate Change in Smiltene Municipality,” co-financed by the European Union.

The water is being drawn down gradually in line with permits issued by the State Environmental Service. A sanitary culvert will also be installed to maintain water flow. Municipal civil engineer Andris Jaunpetrovičs said the lake could be drained this week. After that, workers will wait for the sludge to dry out enough before heavy equipment can move in.

SIA “Vidzemes būvnieks” is tasked with cleaning the lakebed, collecting and hauling away silt, and removing overgrowth. Mineral soil dredged from the lake will be used to create landscaped embankments and terraces along Valkas un Rūpniecības streets. In parallel, the hydrotechnical structure, or sluice gate, and the bridge will be rebuilt to ensure safe vehicle traffic.

Residents have suggested that the overgrown section of the Abula River entering the lake also be cleaned. Due to the works, traffic will be restricted on Ezera Street, limiting access to allotment gardens and nearby buildings; drivers are advised to use the Jaunbilskas road instead. On Wednesday evening, the municipality hosted a construction meeting near the bridge and sluice gate to explain the project and answer questions. People were concerned about access to their properties while the bridge is rebuilt, while anglers asked about the fish. Some fish will leave with the current, while others are expected to be transferred to Vidusezers and Tepera ezers using bathtubs or barrels. For further questions, residents can contact Andris Jaunpetrovičs at 28323729.

The project covers cleaning of three water bodies: Mēru ūdenskrātuve (1.31 ha), Raunas dzirnavu dīķis (1.69 ha) and Lake Tiltleja (5.6 ha). Total eligible costs are EUR 2,141,873.38, of which the European Regional Development Fund contributes EUR 1,820,592.37 and the municipality EUR 321,281.01. The most expensive component is the cleaning of Lake Tiltleja and the rebuilding of its hydrotechnical structures, estimated at around EUR 1.2 million.