Record-breaking year marked by 542 removals!

Free-flowing stretch of Lech River, Austria ©Arthur de Bruin

Last year was another record-breaking year marked by 542 removals! Those highlight the
growing support for barrier removals across Europe as well as increasing understanding
among communities and governments of the benefits of reconnecting and restoring our
rivers for people and nature.

Number of removed barriers per country in 2024

Four countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey – dismantled their first river barriers. Overall, removals took place in 23 countries. For the first time, Finland topped the count, with at least 138 barrier removals, followed by France, Spain and Sweden.

During barrier removal at Giovenco River, Italy @Bruno D’Amicis

For example, five barriers were removed along an 11 km stretch of the Giovenco River in Italy in 2024, restoring its natural flow for the first time in decades. The reconnected river will now – once again – be able to support migratory fish and other species, while its natural dynamics will create healthier habitats for insects, birds and iconic species, like the otter, as well as reducing erosion and building resilience to floods. 

After removal of EBBARP hydropower plant dam, Bäljane Å river, Sweden @Länsstyrelsen Skåne

Over 1,2 million barriers, including dams, weirs and culverts, fragment European rivers. These barriers, tens of thousands of which are obsolete, have degraded the continent’s waterways, blocking the natural flow of water, sediments, nutrients and species – undermining resilience and ecosystems services, and contributing to the catastrophic loss of nature, including a 75% decline in freshwater migratory fish populations in Europe since 1970.

Dead Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, a migratory fish species with declining trend in its populations @Arthur de Bruin

Along with the record removals, 2024 was also the year when the EU Nature Restoration Regulation came into force. Among its many goals is an ambitious target to restore at least 25000 km of fragmented rivers to a free-flowing state. Moreover, barrier removals will also be a key tool in achieving the goals of the global Freshwater Challenge, which the EU has joined and which aims to ensure 300000 km of degraded rivers are under restoration by 2030. Last year’s removal reconnected over 2900km on the longitudinal axis.

Celebrate restored, free-flowing rivers with us!

Merybank Weir removal, Scotland @James Symonds