Open Rivers Programme supports the removal of 100 barriers in European rivers, reconnecting close to 1,500 kilometres of river habitat
The European Open Rivers Programme, a grant-giving organisation dedicated to restoring rivers, is celebrating the 100th barrier removal through programme-funded projects. Although small and often “forgotten”, removing these barriers – now 104 – has reopened 1,490 kilometres of previously fragmented rivers, helping to preserve vital freshwater ecosystems across 18 countries.
The 100th programme-supported removal took place earlier this month in the Vindelälven catchment in northern Sweden. The Vindel River winds through the wild heart of a rare free-flowing river system protected as both a Natura 2000 site and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In this remarkable setting,
Rewilding Sweden led the removal of three of five barriers planned under a demolition project funded by the Open Rivers Programme. These removals have reconnected 102 kilometres of upstream river, with a further 11 kilometres expected once the remaining two barriers are taken down. Building on a previous pre-demolition grant from the programme, the removal of the Fräkentjärnsdammen, Mjösjödammet, Malsjödammen, Skvaltkvarn and Lappträskdammen dams will open more than 112 kilometres of river habitat.
Fräkentjärnsdammen before & after the removal © Rewilding Sweden
“We are delighted to have reached this milestone and are thankful to the dedication of the organisations and individuals that are working tirelessly to restore Europe’s degraded river systems,” said Jack Foxall, Executive Director at the Open Rivers Programme. “However, we still have a long way to go and there is much opportunity! We will support additional projects and enable many more dam removals in the coming years so that the ecological functioning is restored in more rivers across Europe.”
Malsjödammen before & after the removal © Rewilding Sweden
Thanks to a rising movement to remove aging and unnecessary river barriers, communities across the continent are seeing the return of healthier freshwater ecosystems. In 2024 alone, Europe saw a record-breaking 542 river barriers removed – the highest figure ever recorded. Of these, 60 were supported by the Open Rivers Programme, reflecting the organisation’s growing contribution to European river restoration efforts.
Despite this progress, Europe’s rivers are still among the most fragmented in the world. With over one million barriers blocking natural flows – tens of thousands of which are obsolete – a study conducted under the EU-funded AMBER project found that no catchments in Europe were free from artificial barriers and, on average, one barrier exists every 1.35 km. The negative impact of old and degraded barriers goes far beyond riverine ecosystems. By restricting the natural movement of water, wildlife and sediments, they disconnect rivers from floodplains and wetlands – weakening nature’s ability to buffer floods, store water, and adapt to change. As the effects of climate change intensify, these heavily regulated rivers leave communities vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and water scarcity.
Mjösjödammet before & after the removal © Rewilding Sweden
“The science is clear: restoring free-flowing rivers is one of the most effective ways to build climate resilience, yet one of the biggest obstacles to dam removal isn’t technical – it’s political will” said Pao Fernández Garrido, Senior Grants Manager at the Open Rivers Programme. “If governments are serious about meeting the Water Framework Directive and Nature Restoration Regulation targets, removing abandoned barriers must be prioritised in environmental agendas at national, regional and local levels. Every delay in policy action is a missed opportunity to safeguard rivers and people alike.”
Mjösjödammet during the removal © Rewilding Sweden