This research focuses on reophilous fish species, Barbel (Barbus barbus), Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and Nase (Chondrostoma nasus) in the river Meuse between Lanaken and Maaseik (Belgium, Flanders). In the study the spawning places of Barbel and Chub will be mapped and the habitat characteristics of the spawning grounds will be determined. The distribution and abundance of the young of the year fishes are investigated. Special attention is being payed to differences between natural and semi-natural river banks. Differences in habitat use during the growing season and during the day are determined by point-abundance-sampling and electrofishery. Radiotelemetry is used to investigate the seasonal and diurnal habitat use of adult Barbel. The migration to the spawning ground and the spawning activities are determined by radiotelemetry. The bottlenecks in the current situation for both adult and juvenile reophilous fish species are determined. The potential effect of the plans for nature development are assessed from the results of the habitat investigation. Based on the results, .recommendations are made to optimise the plans for reophilous fish species in the Border Meuse.