Europe Removes Record 602 River Barriers in 2025, Reconnecting 2,324 Miles
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 22
Europe Removes Record 602 River Barriers in 2025, Reconnecting 2,324 Miles
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 22
A record 602 dams, weirs, culverts and sluices were dismantled across Europe in 2025, up 11% from a year earlier and marking the sixth straight annual rise tracked by Dam Removal Europe.
The removals reconnected 2,324 miles of rivers and targeted mostly small obsolete structures—more than three-quarters were under 2 metres tall—that no longer served their original purpose but still blocked fish and sediment flows.
Sweden led with 173 removals, followed by Finland with 143 and Spain with 109; Iceland and North Macedonia removed river barriers for the first time, including Iceland's first dam on the River Melsá.
The push supports the EU's 2030 goal of restoring 15,500 miles of waterways under its 2024 nature restoration law, as Europe still has more than 1 million river barriers and freshwater migratory fish populations have fallen 75% since 1970.
Researchers say freer-flowing rivers can revive ecosystems but warn removals may also help invasive species spread, requiring monitoring and long-term management.
As Europe frees its rivers by removing old dams, could it be unleashing an unstoppable wave of invasive species?
While restoring nature, is Europe also erasing irreplaceable pieces of its industrial history and local culture?
Europe's Historic River Restoration in 2025: 603 Barriers Removed and a Blueprint for Global Ecological Recovery
Overview
For centuries, Europe’s rivers were heavily modified for economic purposes—damming for mills and hydropower, straightening for navigation, and even being buried under cities. This led to fragmented river systems and significant ecological damage. Now, a strong movement for river restoration is gaining momentum across Europe. In 2025, there was a record increase in the removal of dams and other barriers, especially smaller structures like weirs and culverts. These efforts are revitalizing waterways, helping rivers flow more naturally, and supporting the recovery of healthy, diverse ecosystems.