Europe Removes 602 River Barriers in 2025, Reconnecting 2,324 Miles
Updated
Updated · The Cool Down · May 27
Europe Removes 602 River Barriers in 2025, Reconnecting 2,324 Miles
6 articles · Updated · The Cool Down · May 27
602 barriers—including dams, weirs, culverts and sluices—were removed across Europe in 2025, setting a record and reopening about 2,324 miles of rivers.
More than three-quarters of the structures stood under 2 meters tall, making many obsolete barriers relatively cheap to remove while restoring fish passage and sediment flow.
Sweden led with 173 removals, followed by Finland with 143 and Spain with 109; Iceland and North Macedonia carried out first-ever removals, while the UK removed 35.
On Iceland’s River Melsá, crews demolished a defunct dam in December that had once powered a farm but had long blocked migration on a river now flowing freely again.
The push supports the EU’s 2030 target to restore 15,500 miles of waterways under its 2024 nature restoration law, after freshwater migratory fish populations in Europe fell 75% since 1970.
With over a million barriers remaining, is Europe's record pace of dam removal actually fast enough to save its rivers?
As Europe removes dams for river health, how will it replace lost renewable energy and secure its water supply?
2025 Marks Historic High in European River Barrier Removals: Progress, Policy, and Challenges
Overview
In 2025, Europe saw an unprecedented surge in river barrier removals, marking a turning point in large-scale ecological transformation. This momentum reflects a growing commitment to restoring the natural flow and health of rivers, driven by a broader understanding of the ecological and societal benefits of free-flowing waterways. While the true extent of these efforts may be underestimated due to the lack of centralized data, many nations are actively engaged in restoration. The ongoing initiatives highlight that significant ecological recovery is not only possible but already happening across the continent, setting a strong foundation for future river restoration.