Tag Archive for: Open Rivers Programme

FREE-FLOWING FUTURE: DAM REMOVAL ACTIONS SURGE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

Once lagging behind Southeastern Europe is now seeing growing action to dismantle outdated dams, weirs, and culverts that fragment rivers, disrupt fish migration, degrade water quality and pose risk of failure. A new report reveals that river restoration through barrier removal—a critical tool to revive Europe’s freshwater ecosystems—is gaining unprecedented traction in Southeastern Europe (Figure 1). The breakthrough comes as EU Member States prepare their National Restoration Plans under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, which requires 25000 km of rivers to be restored to free-flowing conditions by 2030.

The Southeastern Europe Barrier Removal Movement Progress Report 2024–2025, documents 135 activities, including 33 barrier removals across seven countries in just 18 months, signaling a turning point for a region long behind the rest of Europe in reconnecting its rivers. The activities presented in the report were classified into: (1) those contributing to scaling up the implementation of barrier removal (e.g., seminars, stakeholder engagement, knowledge dissemination, efforts to influence policy and legislation), (2) the preparatory works (e.g., barrier mapping and assessment, and hydrological, archaeological, etc. surveys), and (3) the actual barrier removals (Figure 1).

 

Restoration Success Stories 

  • Croatia: Eight obsolete barriers were removed, the first ever in the country, at Plitvice Lakes National Park reconnecting 7.6 km of river and restoring habitat for the endangered Danube trout (Figure 2).
  • Italy: Five barriers on the Giovenco River were removed, reopening 11 km of free-flowing river and revitalizing local wildlife and ecotourism (Figure 3).
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina: Multiple barriers (n=9) were dismantled for the first time in the country, at Hutovo Blato Nature Park and thus 2.5 km were restored for critical fish migration routes and important endemic species.
  • Slovakia: Removal of five barriers in the region of the original channel of the Danube reconnected a vital side arm, boosting biodiversity, flood protection & ecosystem resilience.

“Southeastern Europe holds some of Europe’s most ecologically valuable rivers, yet they remain heavily fragmented. With the EU Nature Restoration Regulation now in force, there has never been a better moment to scale up barrier removals, unlock funding, and prioritize free-flowing rivers as natural solutions to biodiversity loss and climate impacts.” said Jelle de Jong, CEO WWF-Netherlands

 A Call to Action

Despite this progress, less than 1% of all barrier removals in Europe to date have taken place in Southeastern Europe. Extra support is needed to assist the launch of pilot projects, to promote awareness about the benefits of free-flowing rivers, to create networks for practitioners to exchange methods and lessons learned, and to shift existing policies that will enable the implementation of this practice.

 

More info :

Read the SEE Progress Report 2024-2025

Read full press release

 

 

Open Rivers Programme : upcoming work in France and new call for applications starting 6 October

After the summer break, restoration work on the Laussonne (43), the Eyrieux (07) and Malencourie (24) rivers will begin this autumn.

The aim of this work is to ensure the continuity of the river and reconnect several kilometres upstream, increasing access to refuge areas and restoring the white-water habitats needed by sensitive species that inhabit these environments, such as trout, white-clawed crayfish and pearl mussels. Follow the progress of the work on the dedicated page

These projects were submitted by the European Rivers Network to the Open Rivers Programme for co-financing.

During the last application cycle, ERN received support for the Malencourie project aimed at removing an old reservoir and the Clain project for the removal of seven small structures on the upper Boivre, bringing the number of projects supported by the association (studies and works) to 15. During the last cycle, at least three other projects in France, led by fishing federations or unions, received support from the Open Rivers Programme: more info

The programme’s next call for projects will be open from 6 October 2025 to 31 October 2025 (decision in March 2026). Contact us for more information or to help you apply.

SAVE the DATE and REGISTRATION OPEN : Webinar on Open Rivers Programme : lessons learnt and best practices in Southeastern Europe

The next call for Open rivers Programme* applications is coming soon (from the 6th to the 31st of October 2025).

 

Need ideas and advice to prepare your projects and activities, or you just want to know more about Dam Removal in Southeastern Europe ?

Join our webinar on September 23, 2025 from 11:00 to 13:00 CEST. Organized by ERN and WWF NL, the webinar will highlight 3 successful projects completed and implemented in Eastern Europe.  We’ll have 3 presentations from different ORP grant categories. Speakers will present their project as well as lessons learnt and best practices, and it will be followed by a Q&A session :

Introduce, and moderate by Corinne Ronot ERN and Kerry Brink, WWF Nl

Registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GBqXlSOeQZKO_YuY47vYiA

 

 

* The European Open Rivers Programme is a Dutch grant giving foundation funded by Arcadia. The foundation aims to restore endangered European rivers by supporting interventions that lead to the removal of small dams and the restoration of river flow and biodiversity.

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:

 

Work in progress on the Dordogne basin : Pont de Rhodes weir removal

Read more

24 October : Expert Masterclass on Dam Removal : Register

As we approach the opening of the ORP call for proposals on October 29, WFMF, WWF, and ERN will host a 1 hour expert masterclass on dam removal with French expert Stéphane Weil from CATER Calvados Orne Manche, France .

He will present on the topic “: Restoring river continuity at a river or catchment scale. How to proceed ? Examples of approaches, technical and communication tools proposed by CATER COM in France”

This event aims to increase the visibility of ORP call and encourage a greater number of submissions.

Join us on October 24th, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 (CEST) via Zoom

Registration

World Rivers Day, another step towards freeing our rivers

This September, thanks to the support of the European Rivers Network under the Open Rivers Programme, a number of river barrier removal projects are scheduled in France, in sub-basins of the Dordogne, Loire, Gave de Pau and Rhône (see details in the press release).

After three years of implementation of the Open Rivers Programme, more than 140 projects have been supported throughout Europe, including around ten in France, thus contributing to achieving the objective of 25,000 km of free rivers by 2030 in Europe, as set out in the European regulation on nature restoration and measure 20 of the National Strategy for Biodiversity (SNB) 2030, which aims to strengthen actions in favour of ecological webs and remove their main obstacles. Faced with the consequences of climate change, removing weirs and dams that have no use or have a high impact is a key measure for limiting the warming of water, restoring access to refuge areas and increasing the resilience of habitats and species.

On World River Day, we feel it is important to point out that life in our rivers and the quality of our watercourses is still too severely degraded and that urgent action is needed to halt the erosion of biodiversity and cope with the effects of climate change. ‘Repairing rivers and making environments and species more resilient to variations in temperature and hydrology will depend solely on our actions and involvement. There is still a huge task to be done, and it is sometimes difficult to get people to accept it,’ explains Roberto Epple, President of the European Rivers Network. Yet these projects are the result of a long, complex and collective process, combining technical work and consultation, and sometimes militant struggle. So each ecological restoration project is a source of pride, an event to be celebrated that contributes to restoring our shared heritage.

The projects taking part in the Open Rivers Programme are located in sensitive, protected areas with high biodiversity potential, and will help to reconnect habitats for fish (trout, lamprey, salmon), white-clawed crayfish and pearl mussels. ‘By re-establishing the natural dynamics of the watercourse and facilitating the movement of species, we are restoring the system and the complex interactions between living beings and their environments, and providing an additional opportunity to adapt to climate change. These are ‘no-regrets’ measures that benefit everyone,’ explains Corinne Ronot, Project Manager at the European Rivers Network. A range of highly ambitious projects that the European Rivers Network has submitted to the Open Rivers Programme for funding, sometimes in addition to that provided by the French Water Agencies.

Read presse release (in french)

3 new projects selected by the Open Rivers Programme in France

At the end of the summer of 2024, the Open Rivers Programme announced its support for three new projects proposed by ERN in collaboration with local partners:

The town of Argelès-Gazost in the Hautes-Pyrénées will be able to count on the participation of the European Rivers Network and the financial support of the Open Rivers Programme to remove the first obstacle downstream on the Gave d’Azun. Located just a few hundred metres from the confluence with the Gave de Pau, this structure prevents Atlantic salmon from accessing favourable breeding habitats. The work is scheduled for 2025. A “coordinated operation” to restore ecological continuity on the Gave d’Azun is being carried out by the Adour-Garonne water authority and will allow other upstream structures to be treated throughout the year, allowing migratory species to recolonise more than 11 km of the river.

(photo : ©ECOGEA)

Plus d’infos : https://www.ern.org/fr/openrivers/#toggle-id-4 et www.argeles-gazost.fr

At the end of September, the SISMAE association will be carrying out a restoration project on a headwater stream in the Loire département, thanks to the Open Rivers programme, which has helped to finance the budget. The restoration of the watercourse and the removal of two culverts will reconnect the watercourse to the existing wetland and free the stream from all obstacles as far as its source. With its relatively permanent low flows, this watercourse is an important summer refuge for trout and could potentially be recolonised by the white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes, listed as endangered by the IUCN) already present in the downstream tributary. The project is funded by the Agence de l’Eau Loire Bretagne and a number of private sponsors, including the Open Rivers programme with the European Rivers Network, Patagonia and local companies (Rochebillard et Blin, Tiassage Linder, Chambon Paysage). (photo : ©SISMAE)

Plus d’infos : https://www.ern.org/fr/openrivers/#toggle-id-3  Et https://sismae.org/

Finally, on the Eyrieux (Rhône basin), the Syndicat Mixte de l’Eyrieux à Crussol (SMEC) is completing preliminary studies for the complete restoration of an upstream section of the Eyrieux. The work involves removing two weirs that are no longer in use and restoring the river to its original bed at the bottom of the valley, in the section that has been diverted. Fish continuity will be fully restored along 15 km of the upstream Eyrieux by reconnecting it with four of its tributaries, giving a total of 33 km of reconnected main watercourse and 12.5 km of secondary watercourse. In the summer of 2024, the Open Rivers Programme announced that it would also support the works phase, with the studies and works being partly funded by the Open Rivers Programme and supported by the European Rivers Network. (photo ©SMEC)

Plus d’infos : https://www.ern.org/fr/openrivers/#toggle-id-5 Et https://www.eyrieux-clair.fr/