Tuesday, May 20 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.: ERN webinar “Learn more about the Open Rivers Programme” (in French).

The Open Rivers Programme continues to found barriers removal projects, preparatory studies and works. ERN – SOS Loire Vivante, can help and advise you if you wish to apply. To prepare the next call for projects, a webinar to present the program, eligibility criteria and ask your questions is organized on May 20 from 4 to 5:30 pm (in french). registration required.

 

Open Rivers Programme : Open Rivers Programme: Two new projects selected in partnership with ERN and SMDMCA

The Open Rivers Programme continues to support the restoration of river continuity in Europe.

Two new projects, supported by ERN in partnership with SMDMCA, have just been selected in the Cantal region of France: the Batitan and Moulin Bas weirs.

This brings to 13 the number of projects (studies or works) in partnership with ERN and the Open Rivers Programme in France.

 

Seuil de Moulin Bas ©SMDMCA

The Moulin Bas project

The Moulin Bas weir is located on the Souvigne stream, a tributary of the Dordogne. This watercourse, classified in lists 1 and 2 (L.214-17 du CE) is of great ecological importance. In 2018, the Souvigne was home to 8.4% of the spawning grounds for large salmonids in the Dordogne basin, according to a study carried out by ECOGEA for MIGADO. The Moulin Bas weir is an obstacle to migratory fish. It will therefore be removed during the works scheduled for autumn 2025, opening up 15 km of river, or 83% of the Souvigne’s length. Read more

Seuil de Batitan ©SMDMCA

The Batitan project

The Batitan dam is located on the Branugues stream, a tributary of the Cère, in the Cantal department. The Branugues stream is home to numerous species, including fario trout and river lamprey. As with the Moulin Bas project, work will start in autumn 2025, opening up more than 8 km of stream, or 87% of the creek. By eliminating this obstacle, it will be possible to restore upstream spawning habitats and bolster the trout population already present in the stream. Read more 

 

 

Upcoming webinar

Ahead of the next Open Rivers Programme call for projects, ERN will be organizing a webinar to present the program and eligibility criteria. (to be confirmed – May 20, 2025 in frenche).

 

Dates of the next Open Rivers Programme calls for projects

Summer session 2025: from June 9 to July 4, 2025 (decision and start of projects from November 2025)
Autumn session 2025: from October 6 to October 31, 2025 (decision and start of projects from March 2026).

Find out more about these projects and the Open Rivers program:

 

La loire à Champtoceau

Disparition de Philippe Auclerc et Laurent Roy : hommage

En ce début mars 2025, nous avons appris avec tristesse la disparition brutale de deux hommes passionnés et engagés pour les rivières : Philippe Auclerc, Rédacteur en chef pendant 25 ans de « La Loire et ses Terroirs » et de la lettre « Les Nouvelles du bassin de la Loire » et Laurent Roy, ancien Directeur de l’Eau et de la Biodiversité au Ministère de 2013 à 2015 et ancien Directeur de l’Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse jusqu’en 2023. Notre association a eu la chance de travailler avec eux, ils ont souvent partagé les visions de notre association et leurs compétences ont fait avancer la cause des rivières.

Philippe Auclerc était un fin connaisseur du territoire ligérien et de ses acteurs. Son engagement pour la préservation de la Loire et de ses affluents était profond et sa plume était sincère et souvent aiguisés sur la description du jeu d’acteur et le sens de la gestion de l’Eau du bassin. Son travail a plusieurs fois croisé les actions de l’association SOS Loire Vivante, il est venu nous voir dès les débuts de notre combat dans les années 1990 et a encore récemment été le modérateur de notre dernier colloque « Des Saumons et des Hommes » à Brioude en 2023, un sujet qui l’animait fortement. À travers ses écrits, il a su sensibiliser un large public aux enjeux environnementaux et patrimoniaux de ce fleuve. La disparition de Philippe marque la fin d’une époque pour les passionnés de la Loire, c’était le seul encore aujourd’hui à informer de la vie du fleuve, avec un sens critique, de la source à l’estuaire. Nous espérons que son projet de relier les ligériens perdurent. Nos pensées vont à sa famille et ses proches.

Laurent Roy a également joué un rôle important en faveur des politiques de gestion de l’eau et de préservation de la biodiversité en France tout au long de sa carrière. Avec European Rivers Network nous avons pu le rencontrer plusieurs fois lorsqu’il était au Ministère et à l’Agence de l’Eau, notamment au sujet du rétablissement de la continuité écologique sur le Rhin ou en lien avec le projet du label « Sites Rivières Sauvages ». Homme de conviction, sa capacité à dialoguer et échanger de manière constructive en faisait une personnalité respectée dans le milieu. Nous présentons nos sincères condoléances à sa famille.

Post-flood work in the Haute Loire: Stop indiscriminate management and clear-cutting

In an open letter to those responsible for planning, delegating or carrying out work to remove logjams, SOS Loire Vivante welcomes the rapid decision by the French government to provide financial support to communes and communities of communes, but is also surprised at the way in which the work has been carried out.

In some sectors, clear-cutting was carried out without any distinction being made between vegetation that poses a problem for the flow of water and vegetation that is useful for the proper functioning of the environment and for maintaining the banks. Riverside vegetation is a habitat for numerous species, including the emblematic beaver, the otter and many birds. The lack of training or guidelines for the companies to whom the work is delegated is no longer possible.

In its letter, the association also asked that future logjam removal and, above all, maintenance projects in the Allier region be subject to precise specifications to take account of biodiversity issues, while respecting the environment and species protection laws.

Read letter (in French only)

 IUCN Report Recommends: Stop Water Abstraction at Shushica River in Albania and Use Alternatives

Joint press release by EcoAlbania, Riverwatch and EuroNatur

 

Tirana, January 29, 2025  –  This Monday, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released an assessment report about the controversial water abstraction project from the Shushica River, a vital tributary of the Vjosa River within Albania’s Vjosa Wild River National Park (VWRNP). With the project, the Albanian government aims to divert water to the Mediterranean coast to support large-scale tourism. The report, developed by leading international and Albanian experts, concluded that the proposed project would have a severe impact on the national park’s biodiversity and fail to comply with IUCN national park standards. It recommends avoiding the project altogether and using alternative water resources instead. “Avoidance is mandatory to achieve No Net-Loss of biodiversity and avoid significant adverse impacts on the integrity of the VWRNP and its objectives.” so the report states (IUCN, 2025, p. 59).

EcoAlbania, Riverwatch and EuroNatur welcome the results of the report and urge the Albanian government to act decisively on the report’s findings and protect the VWRNP by prioritizing the Avoidance Scenario. This scenario prohibits water abstraction from the Shushica River and recommends alternative water sources outside the park, ensuring that the national park’s objectives are upheld. WATCH OUR VIDEO

Key Findings of the Assessment

  • Violation of National Park criteria & Severe Ecological Risks: The assessment highlights the project’s potentially devastating impacts, including:
    • Loss of critical habitats for endangered species, such as fish, amphibians, and aquatic vegetation.
    • Irreversible damage to sediment transport, water quality, and biodiversity.

As a result of the above, the project is in violation of IUCN guidelines for Category II National Parks, to which the Albanian government has committed itself. It “is expected to have implications for the objectives of the VWRNP. As planned, the project water abstraction will not comply with IUCN guidelines for Category II National Parks, potentially affecting the park’s integrity and conservation objectives as well as ecosystem services.” (IUCN, 2025 Executive Summary)

  • Lepusha Springs Are Crucial: Contrary to the claims of the project proponents – including the Albanian Ministry of the Environment – the Lepusha Springs are of crucial importance for the Shushica. They form the primary source of the river and are integral to the river’s ecosystem. The IUCN report describes the springs as a “key inherent part of the Shushica River, given the functional meaning for the whole river ecosystem.” (IUCN, 2025, p. 22) The project as planned would extract the entire flow of the springs during dry months, leaving no water for the river’s biodiversity.
  • Viable Alternatives Exist: The assessment identifies several alternative water sources, such as the Borshi, Tatzati and Fera Springs, which are capable of meeting water demand without damaging the Vjosa Wild River National Park.
  • Climate Change Compounds the Risk: With climate change projected to reduce water availability in the Vjosa and Shushica River by 30% by 2050, the ecological impact of water abstraction would be even more severe in the future.

The Austrian company STRABAG has been laying these pipes to divert the spring water of the Shushica to the Mediterranean coast © Adrian Guri

 

NGOs and Local Communities Call for Immediate Action
The NGOs of the Blue Heart campaign and local residents of the Shushica Valley are united in their opposition to the planned project.

“This report reinforces the stance we’ve held since the start of this fight: the project would cause significant damage to vast areas of the Wild River National Park, and with alternative water sources available, it is completely unnecessary,” said Olsi Nika from EcoAlbania. “The Avoidance Scenario is the only path forward to protect one of Europe’s last wild river ecosystems and preserve the integrity of the VWRNP.”

“For generations, the Shushica River has been the lifeline of our valley—providing water for our fields, supporting our livelihoods, and offering a place of natural beauty,” said ,” said Astrit Balilaj, mayor of the village Kuç in the Shushica Valley .“We will not stand by and let this project destroy our river and our way of life. The government must listen to science and choose the Avoidance Scenario to protect our future.”

NGOs echo the call to abandon plans that threaten the national park, urging project developers, including the Albanian Development Fund, to embrace sustainable alternatives that respect the park’s integrity and long-term ecological health.

 


Background information

  • Other Scenarios Evaluated: In addition to Avoidance, the report assessed two other scenarios of lower priority, following the standardized framework of an IUCN Mitigation Hierarchy Assessment:
    • Minimization/Mitigation Scenario: : This would necessitate significantly less water abstraction from the Lepusha Springs, a complete redesign of the water intake and the use of alternative sources in parallel. A year-long hydrological and biodiversity study is required to determine an environmental flow regime and so is “an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) according to the amended EIA Directive” (IUCN, 2025, p. 65) in order to minimize environmental impacts during construction phase. This means that construction could not proceed as currently planned.
    • Offsets Scenario: Under this scenario, the project would proceed as planned but compensation measures—such as expanding the VWRNP boundaries to include additional areas, such as the Vjosa Delta—would be required to offset the damage. However, the report stresses that offsetting cannot fully mitigate the ecological harm caused by the project.
  • Download the Full Report and the Executive Summary. The report was independently financed by IUCN, and through aligned grant funds from Patagonia, and the Gordon and Betty Moore foundation, and was prepared by leading international and Albanian experts.
  • The Shushica, a key tributary of the Vjosa and part of Europe’s first Wild River National Park, faces threats from a water abstraction project. The government plans to divert its spring water to the Mediterranean coast to support large-scale tourism. While a 17 km pipeline from Kuç to Himara is nearly complete, the critical diversion infrastructure remains unbuilt. Financed by KfW and the EU (Western Balkans Investment Framework) and constructed by Austrian STRABAG, the project is both destructive and unnecessary, as alternative water sources exist outside the park. Local communities are determined to stop the diversion dam.
  • The Vjosa is one of the last big wild river in Europe outside Russia. Along her course of almost 270 kilometers, the river flows entirely unobstructed from the Pindus Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. In March 2023, after ten years of our campaign, the Albanian government proclaimed Europe’s first Wild River National Park.
  • Photos attached: The attached photo material can be used once in connection with this press release and indicating photo credits. Photos in print quality on request.

Contact
Besjana Guri – EcoAlbania b.guri@ecoalbania.org   0035/692954214
Ulrich Eichelmann – Riverwatch ulrich.eichelmann@riverwatch.eu 0043/6766621512
Christian Stielow – EuroNatur christian.stielow@euronatur.org 0049/7732 9272 15

 

logo Living Rivers Europe

Living Rivers Europe publishes its position : Making Europe climate and water resilient

from wwf epo , 24 january

Europe stands at a critical juncture. As the fastest-warming continent, we are witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change – from deadly floods to severe droughts and wildfires – all driven by extreme water events. At the same time, Europe’s freshwater is widely polluted, with less than 30% of surface waters meeting pollution standards set by the Water Framework Directive. Time is running out, but decisive EU leadership can pave the way for a resilient future.

As the EU prepares its Water Resilience Strategy, the Living Rives Europe coalition is launching its joint position on the path forward for a water and climate resilient Europe.

Read the position here.

Fontgombault (in operation), Bénavent, Saint-Gaultier, Ruffec – the number of micro-power projects on the Creuse River continues to grow

At the end of October, the investigating commissioner issued a favorable opinion on the project to authorize the Moulin de Bénavent hydroelectric power station, brushing aside the five opinions of environmental protection associations, experts in the field of water and rivers. They had demonstrated that the project did not meet the challenges of restoring ecological continuity and migratory fish on a river classified as a priority axis and biological reservoir by the SDAGE and the national biodiversity strategy. Despite all the existing literature on the impact of weirs and received ideas, we can still read in the conclusions of the report that the structure “will protect the homes of towns and villages located downstream from the mill”!

Read the report of Bénavent public enquiry (french)

Read our views on the projects Bénavent, Saint- Gaultier (french)

New cycle of Tuesday Webinars: REGISTRATION OPEN

Public debate – also via videoconferencing and webinars

Register and take part in our next webinars. Already 3 new dates.

Programme details and registration here (in french only)

  • 26 novembre 2024 de 16h à 18h : « Saumon Loire Allier : où en est-on ?

  • 3 décembre 2024 : Les aménagements urbains de protection contre les inondations de Brives-Charensac à l’épreuve!

  • 21 janvier 2025 : La pollution microplastique sur le bassin de la Loire.

ERN +180 ORGANISATIONS CALL THE EU COMMISSION TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES ON CLIMATE, NATURE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE

Keep the Green Deal solid! Europe must not destroy its crowning achievement. It’s future-proofing jobs, prosperity and nature.

The Commission must keep up the momentum and implement smarter, not less. More than 180 NGOs agree!

There is no turning back. Society needs certainty and nature can’t wait!

#WeHadADeal

Brussels, 4 November 2024

The political direction set by President von der Leyen and the early parliamentary debates reveal a concerning shift: tackling the climate, biodiversity, and pollution crises is being deprioritised in favour of industry demands. With the Commissioners’ hearings approaching, the coming weeks will be critical for restoring the balance between the public good and corporate influence.

According to the new mission letters, all Commissioners must meet arbitrary ‘burden reduction’ targets and simplify legislation, posing the risk of delayed or weakened environmental action. It is not enough for this Commission to vaguely claim it will not deregulate environmental, public health and social standards. We demand clarity from President von der Leyen and her Commission on key issues:

  • No rollback of environmental, public health and social laws: President von der Leyen must make an unequivocal public commitment to uphold all existing environmental and climate EU laws and objectives, including those on sustainable finance and corporate accountability. We deplore the recent proposal by President von der Leyen to delay the application of the EU Deforestation Regulation and call on the European Parliament and all EU governments to reject the European Commission’s proposal.
  • Acknowledge the triple planetary crisis: Nature conservation and pollution reduction are quietly being sidelined in favour of a narrow focus on decarbonisation that fails to grasp the interconnectedness of the crisis. The urgent need to tackle pollution is now framed under a chemicals industry package aiming at simplifying the law, instead of better protecting citizens from harmful chemicals. All Commissioners must recognize that restoring and protecting nature, as well as reducing pollution, are integral parts of the solution to combat climate change. Addressing these challenges requires immediate, sustained action. Now is the time to accelerate, not retreat.
  • Support for Green Deal implementation: Businesses and stakeholders need legal certainty underpinned by a clear long term vision and effective regulations. The Commission must pledge to swiftly publish essential guidance documents for implementing newly adopted laws, and making digital safety information, permitting and digital reporting the norm – allowing tracking of progress and benchmarking of industry performance. Furthermore, the Commission should prioritise effective enforcement of environmental laws to ensure a level playing field, supported by necessary financial investments to bolster administrative capacities at all levels.
  • Balanced public participation: All public consultations must be carried in a way that ensures inclusivity of diverse views and avoids dominance by private influence over public interest [1]. In order to do so, particular attention must be paid to the voices of civil society organisations and their input must be routinely incorporated in upcoming dialogues and decision-making processes. Newly proposed mechanisms like ‘reality checks’ and ‘competitiveness checks’ should not be manipulated as tools for corporate lobbyists to hinder EU actions. The Commission must also resist using political ‘urgency’ as an excuse to bypass proper public scrutiny and adhere to its own Better Regulations guidelines to uphold transparency, consultations, and evidence-based decisions.
  • Collaboration across key policy areas: The Executive Vice-Presidents for Cohesion and Reforms, and for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, should be given clear guidance to collaborate effectively across key sectors—such as agriculture, transport, and fisheries—to ensure full alignment with green transition goals.
  • Firewalls between national interests and EU policy: Commissioners with previous ties to governments or political parties that opposed environmental regulations must be held accountable and rejected by the Parliament in case they are unable to dissociate themselves from earlier positions. Strong safeguards must be put in place to prevent conflicts of interest, for example in the application of forest and nature restoration rules.
  • Public money for proven climate solutions: The Commission must commit to allocate public funds solely to proven, cost-effective climate solutions. Unproven or expensive technologies should not receive the same level of financial and administrative support as established methods like nature-positive deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency and nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. Economic activities that allow the EU’s zero-pollution and biodiversity objectives to materialise should be prioritised through public funding.

Despite carefully crafted mission letters, President von der Leyen has openly admitted that the focus has shifted away from climate action and the European Green Deal. In the EU Parliament, her own political group is pushing to weaken democratically adopted regulations on critical issues such as forest protection, greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, and corporate accountability for human rights and environmental violations.

We call on President von der Leyen to address these critical gaps before the new European Commission assumes office, and we urge the European Parliament to raise these concerns during the upcoming Commissioner confirmation hearings.

Notes
[1] Recent reports show that fossil fuel lobbyists continue to benefit from an alarming level of access to the European Commission.

 

Download the list of signatories

Flood of 17 October 2024 in up part of the Loire

We were all impressed by this latest episode of flooding on the upstream Loire, which brought back a few memories.

Fortunately, once again, the arrangements at Brives-Charensac and the warning systems for major floods worked well.

The SOS Loire Vivante – ERN association is delighted to be behind this 4th solution.

In December, we will be organising a webinar on the subject of flood defences at Brives-Charensac, including an assessment. This will be an opportunity to find out more about the project.

In the meantime, for more information, you can read the brochure published in 2019 by the Ministry on the role of ecosystems in preventing natural hazards and page 11 dedicated to Brives-Charensac.

You can also read the article in L’Eveil about the flood of 17 October 2024.