Record dam removals restore EU rivers

May 21, 2026

Europe is witnessing a major shift in river restoration as outdated dams and barriers are removed at record levels, helping waterways return to their natural flow and supporting biodiversity recovery across the continent.

In western Iceland, just a few miles downstream from a volcanic lava field, the uninterrupted sound of flowing water can now be heard again after decades of obstruction. Workers recently dismantled an abandoned dam on the Melsá River, a structure that had long blocked fish migration despite no longer serving its original purpose.

The ageing hydroelectric facility had fallen into severe disrepair. According to river engineer Hamish Moir of the Scottish environmental firm CBEC, the power station was no longer operational and had effectively become a shelter for sheep rather than a source of electricity. He described the successful restoration of the river’s natural flow as an incredibly satisfying achievement.

The removal marked Iceland’s first official river dam demolition, but it is part of a much larger environmental movement spreading across Europe. New data from Dam Removal Europe reveals that 602 river barriers were dismantled across the continent in 2025 — the highest annual total ever recorded. These removals included dams, culverts, weirs, and sluices that had interrupted river ecosystems for decades.

The number of barriers removed increased by 11% compared to the previous year, reconnecting approximately 3,740 kilometres (2,324 miles) of rivers. This progress supports the European Union’s wider environmental target of restoring 25,000 kilometres of free-flowing rivers by 2030 under its nature restoration initiatives.

Environmental experts say Europe’s rivers have historically been heavily modified for economic development. Rivers were dammed for hydropower, redirected for transportation, and engineered for industrial growth, often at enormous ecological cost. Chris Baker, director of Wetlands International Europe, explained that centuries of river fragmentation severely damaged aquatic ecosystems and wildlife populations.

Since official monitoring began in 2020, river barrier removals across Europe have increased sixfold. Iceland and North Macedonia both completed their first recorded removals in 2025. Sweden led Europe with 173 barriers dismantled, followed by Finland with 143 and Spain with 109. The United Kingdom also contributed, removing 35 obsolete structures.

Most of the removed barriers were relatively small, measuring under two metres in height. Many no longer served any economic or industrial purpose, making them cost-effective targets for restoration projects. Environmental groups involved in Dam Removal Europe argue that removing obsolete infrastructure is one of the fastest ways to revive freshwater ecosystems.

River fragmentation has disrupted fish migration routes, altered sediment transport, and contributed to dramatic biodiversity loss. Scientists estimate Europe’s freshwater migratory fish populations have declined by approximately 75% since 1970. Restoration projects completed in 2025 included reconnecting the Kriva and Pčinja rivers in North Macedonia, while Norway demolished a six-metre-high obsolete dam on the Vinstra River using explosives.

Restoring natural river connectivity offers significant ecological benefits, including improved fish habitats, healthier wetlands, and stronger biodiversity. However, researchers also warn that reconnecting waterways may unintentionally help invasive species spread more easily between river systems.

A recent scientific study highlighted this “connectivity conundrum,” explaining that some artificial barriers have historically slowed the movement of invasive organisms. Ellen Donovan, a biologist at Queen’s University Belfast and lead researcher of the study, noted that while river restoration delivers rapid ecological improvements, long-term environmental management and monitoring are essential to reduce emerging risks.

Europe currently has more than one million artificial barriers disrupting rivers and streams, with tens of thousands considered obsolete. The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law, which came into force in 2024, specifically encourages the removal of outdated river infrastructure to reconnect freshwater ecosystems.

The global movement toward river restoration extends beyond Europe. In the United States, rivers are fragmented by over 550,000 dams and hundreds of thousands of road-related barriers. Experts estimate that around 70% of American dams have exceeded their intended design lifespan. According to conservation nonprofit American Rivers, 100 dams were removed across the US in 2025 alone. China has also accelerated restoration efforts, removing hundreds of dams along sections of the Yangtze River in recent years.

Environmental advocates say public attitudes toward old dams are changing rapidly. Rather than viewing obsolete structures as permanent landmarks, many communities now recognize them as ageing industrial remnants that continue to damage ecosystems long after their original function has disappeared.