PARIS — Europe’s river restoration movement reached a new milestone as more than 600 barriers, including dams, weirs and other structures, were removed across the continent in 2025, reconnecting thousands of kilometres of waterways and reshaping river ecosystems, according to the Dam Removal Europe 2025 report.
The record-scale dismantling effort is part of a broader push by European governments, conservation groups and river authorities to restore natural river flows, improve habitats and address ecological damage linked to outdated barriers. Dam Removal Europe said at least 603 river barriers were removed in 2025, surpassing the previous annual record of 542 removals in 2024.
The projects vary widely in size, from small obsolete weirs to larger dam structures that have blocked fish migration and altered sediment movement for decades. Conservation groups involved in the initiative said the removals have helped reconnect more than 3,740 kilometres of rivers across Europe, allowing natural river processes to resume in affected areas.
European river restoration efforts have focused on restoring what scientists describe as ecological connectivity — the ability of rivers to support the movement of fish, sediment and nutrients. The European Rivers Network, which supports the Dam Removal Europe initiative, said removing unnecessary barriers can restore river morphology, improve conditions for migratory fish and strengthen freshwater ecosystem resilience.
Several high-profile projects have contributed to the wider movement. In France, the removal of the Vezins and La Roche-qui-Boit dams on the Sélune River in Normandy was undertaken to restore river continuity after the structures were identified as obstacles for migratory fish. The European Rivers Network said the dams, built in the early 20th century, had significantly affected fish passage and river dynamics.
The expansion of dam removal has also been accompanied by debate over the balance between ecological restoration and existing human uses of rivers. The Dam Removal Europe network has noted that not all dams can or should be removed, particularly those still serving important functions such as water supply, safety or other public needs.
Environmental groups and restoration agencies say careful planning and monitoring remain necessary because river systems can respond unpredictably after barriers are dismantled. Some researchers and officials have raised concerns about issues including sediment movement, local flood management and the possible spread of invasive species following changes in river connectivity.
The European Union has set a target of restoring thousands of kilometres of rivers by 2030 under its broader nature restoration efforts, with dam and barrier removal among the measures being used to meet those goals.
The latest Dam Removal Europe figures show the movement continuing to expand, with authorities and environmental organisations expected to continue assessing additional obsolete barriers for possible removal and river restoration projects in the coming years.
