Fewer barriers on rivers! Europe focuses on restoration

In 2024, a total of 524 culverts, weirs, dams, and locks were dismantled, according to a report published by the international network Dam Removal Europe. This marks a record high to date, which bodes well for Europe’s restoration efforts. Fewer barriers on rivers mean not only greater water security but also vital support for natural ecosystems.

Scandinavia leads river restoration in Europe

The Dam Removal Report 2024 summarizes activities related to restoring European rivers to their natural course, broken down by country and type of hydrotechnical structure removed. Last year, the undisputed leader in this field was Finland, where as many as 138 structures were dismantled. A significant number of barriers were also removed in France (128), Spain (96), and Sweden (45). According to Dam Removal Europe data, only two barriers were removed in Poland in 2024 – one of them was a weir on the Wisełka River.

The most frequently dismantled hydrotechnical structures were culverts (45%) and weirs (43%). Additionally, 8% of the removed structures were dams, 16 of which were used for energy production. Thanks to restoration efforts, 2,900 km of rivers were reconnected in 2024.

Fewer barriers on rivers means more life!

One of the most positive examples of restoring natural river structures in Europe was the removal of barriers on the Sélune River in Normandy. In 2022, this French river regained its free flow after nine decades of regulation, and just two years later, scientists observed migratory lampreys, eels, and salmon returning.

In Belgium’s Haute-Sûre Forêt d’Anlier park, 11 culverts were removed that had previously prevented brown trout from moving through the waterways. Brown trout are essential hosts for the larvae of the freshwater pearl mussel – a valuable and critically endangered species protected across the European Union. Natural riverbeds were restored, and bridges made of prefabricated blocks were built above them. These structures required no cement or mortar for installation, thereby minimizing environmental risk.

Currently, international attention is focused on the Finnish-Swedish TRIWA project, worth €21 million and supported by the LIFE programme. Scheduled for 2023–2030, the project aims to remove 400 barriers in the Torne River basin and restore 100 km of watercourses and 2,500 ha of wetlands. So far, over 100 barriers, including culvert channels, have already been removed.

Nature Restoration Law in practice

The initiatives described in the Dam Removal Europe report align with the objectives of the Nature Restoration Law, adopted in June 2024, which aims to rebuild Europe’s natural resources. According to the law, by 2030 at least 20% of all aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems on the continent are to be restored.

Unfortunately, even removing half a thousand river barriers is just a drop in the ocean of what is needed. A 2020 study published in the journal Nature estimated that more than 1.2 million hydrotechnical structures are scattered across 36 European countries, disrupting the natural flow of most rivers and limiting ecosystem service levels. As many as 68% of these are small structures under 2 meters high, whose negative impacts are still underestimated.

The Dam Removal Europe network – which includes WWF, The Rivers Trust, The European Rivers Network, and Wetlands International – emphasizes that removing river barriers improves water quality, restores biodiversity, and reduces the risk of flooding and accidents linked to aging infrastructure. Restoration efforts also benefit the economy, particularly fisheries and tourism.