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France launches River Revolution in Europe (Pressrelease ERN/WWF intl.)

Paris, 21 November – With thousands of proposed dams threatening Europe’s few remaining free flowing rivers, France’s decision to remove two large dams could signal the start of a new era on the continent – with countries focussing on reviving their rivers and on large scale dam destruction rather than construction.

Eight years after the idea was initially discussed, the French government agreed last week to remove the 35 metre-high Vezins and 15 metre-high ‘La Roche qui boit’ dams from the Selune river in Normandy in 2018.

read the Pressrelease by ERN and WWF intl.

 

France (Selune River) : French Minister Hulot confirme the removal of two large dams

The french Minister Nicolas Hulot announce the removal of the Vezin dam (35m) and the Roche qui boit dam (15m). The works starts in spring 2018 !
Read ERNs /WWF intl. Pressrelease in english (21 November) 
For more information :

Visite ERN’s ” Sélune libre” Website ( in french only)

Read the official Press release by the Ministery (14 november, pdf) in french

Read the official Press release by French NGOs (pdf) in french

more information on  “Sélune libre” in french by the friends of the Sélune (Facebook)

 

Dam Removal Europe : New Workshop in UK (25/26 September)

Workshop on dam and weir removal in the urban environment – 25 & 26 September 2017

Birmingham, England, UK

more information (DRE Website)

*ERN is cofounder of Dam Removal Europe Platform

 

Poutès Dam (France) : Major works in progress before partial dismantling of the dam

Since June the craft are busy in the reservoir of Poutès dam. The lowering of the water level of the reservoir made the Allier return to its former bed. The work in progress is part of phase 1 of the site and allows the sediments to be raised and stabilized in the upstream part of the reservoir.

new leaflet : NO GO for micro hydro in french wild and scenic rivers

Only 1% of French river, mostly in national park, have a good statute of preservation, with a specific and endemic biodiversity. We need to save them from hydropower projects. This project causes too much damage on the rivers and do not participate to energetic transition.  ERN France – Wild Rivers publishes a brochure with examples of 3 endangered beautyfull rivers.

Download the leaflet (in french only)

Poutès dam (France) : the demolition and the reconfiguration process starts in june 2017

Please read our Pressrelease 10.022017 .- in french more information on the Poutès dam  

Read more

Imminent decision to start (or not) the partial removal of the symbolic Poutès dam

The decision to start (or not) the works to dismantel partially the very symbolic Poutès dam should be communicated february 8.
Last year EDF ( Electriciy de France, owner ) hast postboned the works. Our NGOs is expecting the start befor summer 2017.

Read the pressrelease 2016 by ERN-SOS Loire Vivante and others (in french inly)

 

more information (in french only)  :