Dam Removal: A viable solution for the future of our European Rivers
Topics: Climate Change, Economics, EU Directives, Fisheries, Flood & Drought management, Habitat & Biodiversity, How to do River Restoration, Hydropower, River restoration in general, Social benefits,
Regions: Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Published: 17-07-2018 , Authors: Peter Cough (World Fish Migration Foundation), Pa Ferández Girrando (World Fish Migration Foundtion), Jeroen van Herk (Dam Removal Europe).
With only 40 percent of Europe’s waterways in good condition, a new study published today calls for tens of thousands of redundant dams and other barriers to be removed to help restore rivers and lakes – boosting wildlife populations and benefiting communities across the continent. A new initiative called Dam Removal Europe aims to start an era of dam removal.
Download Dam-Removal-Europe-Report-2018.pdf
Dam Removal: A viable solution for the future of our European Rivers stresses that the density of dams, weirs and locks in Europe is far higher than previously suspected, with salmon, eel, sturgeon and other migratory fish encountering obstacles every kilometer on average. Previously, only dams higher than 10 metres were counted, but these represent less than 3 percent of all river barriers. "Rivers are nature's lifeline, and disrupting them comes at a high price. Dams have played a critical role in Europe’s development but they have also contributed to the slow death of our rivers and the catastrophic decline in freshwater species,” said Stuart Orr, Freshwater Practice Lead for WWF. “Tens of thousands of small dams and barriers are no longer in use but they are still in place: blocking fish migrations, stopping the flow of sediment and nutrients, and undermining the value of rivers to people and nature.”