How removing obsolete river barriers benefits nature and people
In this climate crisis era, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves, call for a departure from 20th-century water infrastructure like dams and weirs. To tackle the effects of climate change and better protect vulnerable communities, we urgently need to work in harmony with nature by restoring natural systems and improving water management.
Hučava Weir Removal by Rob Kleinjans
One effective solution involves the removal of obsolete artificial barriers such as weirs and dams. European rivers are hindered by a staggering 1.2 million barriers, including 150,000 outdated ones, underscoring the importance of dam removal as a tool. While progress has been made with 8,000 barriers removed in 27 countries, there’s more work to be done. With the Nature Restoration Law now in place, EU Member States need to identify and eliminate obsolete barriers to restore 25,000 km of European rivers to their natural, free-flowing state.
Discover ten reasons why barrier removal is a proven, effective and affordable way to help local communities, improving public safety and tackling the effects of climate change.
This factsheet was developed by the World Fish Migration Foundation and WWF Netherlands, as part of the “Scaling up dam removal: implementation plan for Southeastern Europe” project, funded by the European Open Rivers Programme.
