Sustainable development is the actual topic for some time now. The definition is simple. It is an economic development which does not harm the natural and social environment. That is what the people from the Gacka valley want. But sustainable development is not as simple as the definition says.
Preservation or promotion of the natural and social environment can’t be separated because they are entwined. It is necessary to observe how much can be done on the regional plan, and are some projects above the interests of the region. In the past it was the hydro-energy system Lika – Gacka, and today it is the highway Zagreb – Split. It is impossible to fight against a highway. It is the most important direction, and a national interest. The decision has been made, and there were many appeals for the highway to go through a part of the valley which would not harm the Gacka Eco-system. We have to endure on that matter until it is not too late. The highway will bring prosperity in the future – many passengers will use Gacka as a vacation and recreation destination, not only a passing spot.
The waters of Gacka are a part of the karst water system, and spreads on 800 km2 , what means that the quality of water does not depend only about events in the Gacka valley. Nevertheless, all the major threats for the river occurred right there. The chemistry of the water was altered by many polluters since the end of the 19th century. A brewery was built which often dumped waste waters, without any filters, directly in the Gacka river. When the brewery stopped working in 1997, fish returned into that part of the river.
In 1960 some new people came, some people who saw this beauty in a different light. The economic prosperity was at its peak, and the waters of Lika rivers were a bate for those who wanted to produce electricity. The time when Gacka passed through many villages in this area, not losing its strength all the way to Velebit, where it dropped under the ground, became history. In 1964 a hydro-energy system Lika – Gacka with the electric power plant Senj was built. 50% of the biological potential of Gacka disappeared. The northern backwater, 22 km long, flowed through many villages, and was lost under the ground somewhere in Hrvatsko polje beneath Velebit. The promised biological minimum, after the hydrotechnical construction, stayed only on paper. The mills, gardens and wells were gone.
The more abundant, left flow of Gacka, got its name Švica because of the word šui (in Old Slavic it means left) and in 1880 it had flood regulations, but did not jeopardize the biological balance. The length of the flow was 4 km, not counting Švička lakes. Numerous rapids and waterfalls made this part the pearl of Gacka, a paradise for mills and trout. Downstream there were numerous abysses which swallowed extra water during high waters. A special phenomenon were eels which arrived from the sea on 450 meters above the sea level in Donje Švičko lake. That part of the river remained only on rare photos and in memories.
The construction of the hydro-energy system left the biggest scar on the face of the field, and the water. Many fish which never lived in Gacka came from the Lika river through an artificial underground channel. In 1996 the accumulation lake Gusić was emptied because the HE Senj was cleaned after 10 years (because of the recent war). A huge amount of fish which was unavailable during the war and multiplied without any obstacles, died then. In future dry outs it would be necessary to establish better communication with the local fishing associations in order to take care of fish on time. Many different species were brought in the river in the meantime. The consequence is numerous diseases, not only for fish, but crayfish as well.
After the power plant was constructed new wounds appeared. In the seventies the hotel “Gacka” was built, a hotel which never got a permit to work. The waste waters were dumped through a non-adequate filter, and the heating boiler and the cistern for fuel were built on the Malinišće creek.
A big fish-farm was built then on the largest right tributary of Gacka – Sinačka pučina. With irrational management a lot of food was dumped in the river, along with various chemical and biological substances. That waste laid there for years and turned into toxic mud, preventing the development of fauna and raising the bottom level.
Near the springs of Gacka in Ličko Lešće there is a modernized old lime factory. The new installation has “bitten” even more from the karst body of the Gacko field. Frequent mining covered the cracks inside. Sometimes it happened that main Gacka springs dried out, and toxic liquid was dumped in the river. There is a milk factory there in the same town. Even the milk factory pollutes the environment, by dumping water from the pasteurizer.
We would go far if we would start counting all the polluters. People are often not aware of individual responsibility. Numerous households pollute Gacka - they want a clean home and the environment has to suffer from all kinds of cleaning liquids. Otočac is the greatest threat there, because it has most inhabitants. But, there are chances this problem will be solved in the near future.
We have to mention many grenades from the recent war. They killed even fish, and left their deadly metal in the river. But, there is cure for that which works today, and we hope forever.
Unfortunately there is no cure for pouching. That is a disease which appears with every new generation. Those who love Gacka organize guard and protection services which are obviously not sufficient.
It is necessary to convince many people to influence protection, contribute to the clean river, not only with their opinions, but with their behavior, because the river is here for them.