DAM REMOVAL EUROPE: Removing tens of thousands of obsolete dams in Europe will bring rivers back to life

With only 40% of Europe's waterways in good ecological condition (European Environmental Agency, 2018), a new study published today calls for tens of thousands of obsolete dams and other barriers to be removed to help restore rivers and lakes, boosting wildlife populations and benefiting communities across the continent. This report stresses that the density of barriers in Europe is far higher than previously suspected, with salmon, eel, sturgeon and other migratory fish encountering obstacles every kilometre, on average. It is estimated that in France, Spain, Poland and the UK alone, there are up to 30,000 mainly small dams which are now obsolete. But there is no comprehensive study yet on the total number of obsolete dams in Europe, but the real figure is most probably many times higher. While these barriers provide no benefits to communities, they still prevent rivers from flowing freely, contributing to the disappearance of freshwater species, particularly migratory fish that cannot reach their spawning grounds. Obviously, this also affects birds feeding on fish as well as many other animals. More Information: Dam Removal Europe Download the full report: Dam-Removal-Europe-Report-2018.pdf
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