Residents and anglers are sounding the alarm over a large number of dead fish in the area of Lake Pilchowickie and in the Bóbr below the dam, between Pilchowice and Wleń. Photos and recordings of dead fish, as well as reports of an unpleasant smell along the river, are appearing on social media.
One internet user, Jarek Janek Lesik, wrote that since February, “several hundred kilos of bream and a few other fish” had been removed from Pilchowice, but in his opinion some of the fish had died because of improper removal and transport. According to his account, the situation was said to have deteriorated sharply over the past few days, and dead fish can be seen in the river between Pilchowice and Wleń.
The matter was also publicized by Marcin Bustowski, who published footage from the site and called the situation “a cemetery of dead fish.” He asked whether it could be connected with human activity during the renovation of the Pilchowice Dam and whether all environmental-protection obligations had been fulfilled.
Dam renovation and draining the lake
The situation is connected with the ongoing renovation of the Pilchowice Dam. Water from the reservoir is being gradually released to enable work on the more-than-century-old structure. The process of lowering the water level began on February 12, 2026, and the second phase of emptying the reservoir was scheduled from mid-June to July 20, 2026. PZW had previously reported that the reservoir was to be completely emptied during this stage.
According to information reported by TVN24, Tauron had announced that the water level would be lowered gradually, by no more than one meter per day, and that the bottom of the reservoir was expected to become visible around June 28. Fish are being removed as the water is released and are to be transported to replacement reservoirs, including areas around Wrzeszczyn and Perła Zachodu.
Tauron: dead fish will appear
Tauron had previously acknowledged that losses among fish could not be avoided with such significant interference in the environment. In a statement quoted by regional media, the company said that the fish removal was being conducted under the supervision of fishery scientists, while the reservoir’s shores were to be patrolled by the Social Fishery Guard and the Polish Angling Association.
The company also said that at the beginning of the reservoir’s emptying, some fish were expected to flow freely downstream with the water. After the water level was lowered, fish removal began, hundreds of meters of nets were deployed, and the water in front of the dam was then oxygenated. Tauron simultaneously announced that dead fish would appear and were to be disposed of on an ongoing basis.
Anglers speak of a serious problem
Some anglers and observers nevertheless indicate that the scale of the fish deaths may be much greater than suggested by the reassuring statements. The Grodzkie.pl portal reported that dead fish are being placed in big bags and transported to the crest of the dam, where they are collected by a disposal company. According to the authors’ account, approximately 1–2 tons of dead fish were reportedly taken away during one morning’s loading operation.
The same report drew attention to how the operation was being conducted: after being removed from the nets, the fish were reportedly taken by boat to a Mauser-type container equipped only with makeshift oxygenation. The authors pointed out that some fish may already have failed to survive the initial stage of removal and transport.
These are, however, observers’ accounts that should be verified by the relevant institutions. At this stage, there are no publicly known water-test results or official findings that would conclusively establish the cause of the fish deaths.
Why is this important for Bolesławiec?
The Bóbr flows from the Pilchowice area through further towns in Lower Silesia and then also through the area around Bolesławiec. That is why residents of our region are asking whether dead fish, pollutants, silt or deteriorating water quality could also appear farther downstream.
For now, there is no official statement confirming a threat to Bolesławiec. The matter nevertheless requires monitoring, especially if dead fish are also seen along further sections of the Bóbr. In such a situation, rapid action by the services, water testing and ongoing information for residents are crucial.
Residents should report dead fish
If residents notice dead fish in the Bóbr, they should not touch them or remove them themselves. Such cases should be reported to the relevant services: the police, municipal or community guards, WIOŚ, Polish Waters or the local crisis-management center.