Do you know the crowdfunding platform for dam removal?

Dam Removal Europe and WWF Netherlands launched just two years ago a crowdfunding platform for dam removal in Europe.

Since 2018, seven projects on the Danube, in Lithuania and the UK have been completed thanks to this fundraising.
The possibilities to submit a project (see conditions) and to participate financially are still open.
The current campaign is taking place in Ukraine for three dams in the Carpathians. 40% of the objective has been reached (out of the 31 000€)!  Participate in fundraising. More info on the project and donate : https://crowdfunding.wnf.nl/project/three-dams-in-ukraine.

How far will the hydroelectic equipment of weirs in the Loire – Allier basin go?

The Loire-Allier basin is one of the main migration routes for wild Atlantic salmon. NGOs have been working for more than 30 years to protect and restore ecological continuity on this axis. Several successes have been achieved. Large dams have been removed (e.g. Maison-Rouge, Saint-Etienne-de-vigan), the Poutès dam is being completely restructured (partial removal) to reduce its impacts on upstream and downstream migration. Wild Atlantic salmon were saved in extremis on this axis.). (more infos)

In spite of these victories and the strong biodiversity issue in the basin, at least 6 hydropowerplants are in project on existing weirs and dams with no real uses (see map).

Some projects would worsen the ecological continuity because they would prevent the removal of the dam. There is no denying that the development of renewable energies has entered into competition with biodiversity. What about the basin vision . Who takes care of it in these projects?

To take stock of the situation, avoid certain developments, reduce impacts, compensate as a last resort, SOS Loire Vivante – ERN France and several basin associations will lead in the coming months a series of Webinars and debates which will hopefully lead to a strategic vision for the basin conserving the interests of biodiversity and the river. Upcoming events, see the webinars page (in french only)

Big dam removed or retrofit and new threats on the Loire basin.

21 July 2020: 1000th day of the revision process of the WFD! It is time for the European Commission to conclude this debate!

ACT NOW !!

July 21 will mark the 1,000th day since the launch of the independent review of our water legislation the Water Framework Directive.

From now until the beginning of July, European citizens, through the “Protectwater” campaign, are called upon to mobilise once again with the Commission to stop an endless debate on possible changes that could weaken this unique law. Write personally, via a form to the European Commission to express to it in your own words this incomprehension and the urgent need to take a decision to protect our rivers in Europe. The form allows you to send a message from your own mailbox directly to Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, and Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President.

We have already shown that citizens can mobilise in numbers (375,386 to be precise! with the public consultation). Now write personal and authentic messages, whether it is a story about your river, or why you took part in the public consultation, etc.

more infos

Sélune: the work on the Vezins dam is coming to an end!

Since March, and in view of the health crisis, the Vezins works carried out by the DDTM 50 has been at a standstill. Only the central pier and the foundations remain today. With some delay, the work will resume until September so that the Sélune can finally be reopened. On the La Roche-qui-boit dam downstream, the only one remaining to date, EDF, the project manager for the site, will launch the sediment management work in June 2020. The final emptying of the reservoir is scheduled for April 2021 and the deconstruction of the dam at the end of 2021-early 2022.

>> More info on our dedicated pages

Europe unveils its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 : by 2030, the 27 will have to have freed up 25 000 km of rivers

On Wednesday 20 May, Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the Green Deal, and Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius unveiled the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Linked to the Green Deal, this strategy aims to halt the loss of terrestrial, lake and marine biodiversity.

Within this framework, strong announcements concern rivers and the restoration of ecological continuity. In 2021 the Member States will have to list the obstacles to the free movement of rivers and the restoration of flood plains. By 2030, the 27 will have to have freed up 25 000 km of rivers. The work of the NGOs, and the Dam Removal Europe coalition, to achieve these announcements has been effective.

With the Water Framework Directive (which we hope will be kept as ambitious by the European Commission despite the pressures – see our Living Rivers Europe page for more information) and now the Biodiversity Strategy and the Green Deal, all is there: the objectives, public policies and tools. So let’s get to work!

Link to the official communication of the European Commission

14 March – The International Day of Action for Rivers

The International Day of Action for Rivers

is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse communities around the world come together with one voice to say that our rivers matter. That communities having access to clean and flowing water matters. That everyone should have a say in decisions that affect their water and their lives. That it’s our time to stand up for these rights, now more than ever.

This year’s Day of Action for Rivers theme focuses on Women, Water, and Climate Change. Last year, 100 women from 32 countries who are leading efforts to protect and defend rivers gathered at the first Women and Rivers Congress .

More information on all events. Some has bee canceled (Coronoa)

> https://www.internationalrivers.org/dayofactionforrivers

Wild Rivers go’s Alps

The Wild Rivers project and its label  will be implemented in the alpine countries and then in the Balkans.

European Rivers Network  has established a partnership with WWF for the alpine region and with EURONATUR for the Balkan region.

Starting in April 2020 * is  you can apply for the label and download all documents for the alpine countries, later on for the Balkan region.

More information > https://www.ern.org/en/wild-rivers/ 

 

* postponed to 2021 due to  Covid 19 epidemie  

24-26 sept : Seminary “Selune revival” : great success !

From Septemebr 24-26  will be held a International seminary on the large scale damremoval and the revival of the Sélune Valey in Rennes/Avranches (Mont aint Michel) ; It is the 5th international symposium on the restoration of ecological continuity of rivers!
The conference, will bring together 200 people from 20 different countries as well as from the Sélune River region … !!

> more informations about the event and the organisation

> Read Press Release (French Only)

 

40 % of Vezin Dam Remova completed l

The largest european dam removal is under way. 40 % of the 37 m dam are dismanteld today.

Photos and videos are availabe on demande.

Normally the removal the dam itselfs will be completed end of september, just in time with the international dam removal seminary helt in Rennes and Avranchen (Mont Saint Michel) September 24- 26 organised  by ERN and its partners.

More on the the Sélune dam removals

Rhine : Commission urges FRANCE to step up efforts to restore the ecological flow of the Rhine River

Photo : Copyright EDF

 

Commission urges FRANCE to step up efforts to restore the ecological flow of the Rhine River

The Commission is calling on Franceto comply with its obligations under EU law (the Water Framework Directive, Directive 2000/60/EC. The Commission urges the French authorities to improve the condition of the Rhine River on its territory to ensuring ecological continuity, namely allowing fish species to migrate beyond dams. Under the Directive, adopted in October 2000, Member States agreed to take measures to ensure that water bodies achieve good ecological status by 2015. EU countries have to comply with a number of conditions set out in the EU legislation, regarding biodiversity, pollution, and natural flow. The deadline may be extended under certain conditions, but the Commission is concerned that France has not provided sufficient justifications for postponing the date of compliance. In addition, the French authorities have not provided a timetable with a programme for meeting these EU norms. France now has two months to address the Commission’s concerns. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/EN/INF_19_4251

Remember : ERN supported by the international Salmon Comeback Coalition (NGOs)  filed an EU complaint against France end of 2018 . ERNs complaint is directed at France due to the infringement of the Water Frame Directive

> Visite the salmoncomeback Campaign Website