Case studies 1996-2023
Large dam removal, the French experience
The movement to challenge the environmental impacts of dams emerged in the 1970s, particularly in the United States. In France, the ideas in favour of the dismantling of dams and “free rivers” had their first major successes at the end of the 1980s with the “Loire Vivante” campaign.
As early as 1996, France dismantled 3 large dams with a strong impact on migratory fish. The examples presented below concern cases in which SOS Loire Vivante – ERN France was strongly involved in their removal.
Location
Presentation of case studies: news, photos, etc. on dedicated pages!
© ERN
2022-2023: Dismantling of four weirs on the Tardoire (Charente river basin)
© ERN
2021-2022 : Démantèlement du barrage de la Roche-qui-Boit sur la Sélune (fleuve côtier de Normandie), 16 m de haut
© Eau et Rivières de Bretagne
2019-2020 : Démantèlement du barrage de Vezins sur la Sélune (Fleuve côtier de Normandie), 36 m de haut
©
2019-2021 : Effacement partiel et reconfiguration du barrage de Poutès sur l’Allier (Haut bassin de la Loire). De 17m de haut à 7 m.
© Roberto Epple
2007 : Démantèlement du barrage de Fatou sur la Beaume (Haut bassin de la Loire)
© R. Chupin
2005 : Démantèlement du barrage de Blois sur la Loire (destinés aux activités nautiques) 2,5m de hauteur et 150m de long
© Roberto Epple
2003 : Démantèlement du barrage de Brives Charensac, 5 m de hauteur (haut bassin de la Loire)
© Roberto Epple
1998 : Démantèlement du barrage de Saint-Etienne-du-Vigan, 12m de hauteur, sur le haut bassin de l’Allier
© Archives
1998 : Démantèlement du barrage de Maisons-Rouges, 4m de hauteur (6m depuis la base), 200m de long, sur la Vienne, affluent de la Loire
© AFP/Archives
1996 : Démantèlement du barrage de Kernansquillec, 15m de hauteur, en Bretagne sur le Léguer, fleuve côtier
Other case studies from France
The French Biodiversity Office (OFB) runs the national river restoration center and the river resource center.
In this context, the OFB offers case studies on river restoration work.
The case concerning dams removal are available here (few are in english).
Films are also available with French and European examples.
Restoring rivers
News
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Roberto Epple2022-06-10 15:23:122022-06-10 15:31:40Big Jump July 10 – Time to register your event
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Roberto Epple2022-05-27 15:47:472022-06-10 15:36:23OpenRivers : New Call for Expressions of Interest – deadline for new submissions – 8th July 2022
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romainpezet2022-05-18 11:27:402022-06-03 16:04:18World Fish Migration Day – Exceptional visit of the “New Poutès” in France
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romainpezet2022-05-16 17:27:482022-05-16 17:37:16Everything that happens in our lives is found in our rivers
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romainpezet2022-05-16 11:57:502022-05-18 11:59:427th Dam Removal Europe seminar
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romainpezet2022-05-09 14:48:132022-05-09 14:48:13Visit of the “Nouveau Poutès” dam organized by SOS Loire Vivante on May 21
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Roberto Epple2022-03-26 14:22:012022-06-03 16:12:29France : “Nouveau Poutès dam” : observation of the lenght of the reservoir
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Roberto Epple2022-03-11 02:00:082022-03-11 02:01:22Join the International Day of Action for Rivers! March 14, 2022
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2022-02-24 16:22:492022-02-24 16:24:25May 21, 2022 is World Migratory Fish Day !
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2022-02-24 15:45:092022-02-24 15:50:33Conference debate: The Durance – rivers sick of humans? Is a renaturation possible?
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Roberto Epple2021-10-13 02:14:352021-10-14 18:20:43France : Public policies to safeguard the Loire Salmon : a total incoherence !
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AFProfit2021-10-04 15:53:092021-10-28 10:19:58This autumn, on the Poutès dam (river Allier)…
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AFProfit2021-09-20 13:00:562021-09-20 13:01:53Loire salmon: The coup de grace in Vichy?
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Roberto Epple2021-06-12 10:31:042021-06-14 10:31:25Most European rivers will not achieve good ecological status by 2027 (Living rivers Europe Coalition)
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Roberto Epple2021-03-06 16:10:112021-03-06 22:49:23Hydropower in Europe : Transformation – not development (WWF Report)
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AFProfit2021-01-05 13:59:212021-01-05 14:37:57National Geographic highlights actions to promote ecological continuity of rivers
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AFProfit2021-01-05 12:35:072021-01-05 12:35:07More than one million barriers fragment Europe’s rivers !
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AFProfit2020-12-17 16:04:362020-12-17 16:22:55In 2021, ERN will tell you a story in pictures…. but which one??
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AFProfit2020-11-26 11:39:382020-11-26 11:39:38Join the global call to protect rivers !
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Roberto Epple2020-07-12 17:51:272020-07-14 17:54:59Great Big Jumps in many places despite Covid .The activities we carry out about on removal are supported by 
.
ERN is the official WWF Freshwater Partner in France and cooperates with WWF Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and others
