The European Open Rivers Programme is delighted to announce its support for 20 new projects, aimed at restoring the ecological health of endangered European rivers. These efforts represent an important step towards removing outdated barriers and restoring natural river flow, creating lasting benefits for wildlife, ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
The recently awarded projects are categorised into five grant types: A1 barrier identification and prioritisation, A2 pre-demolition, A3 and A4 demolition and B enabling others to remove dams. Among the demolition projects (A3 and A4), funding will be provided for removing ten barriers, which is expected to open up an impressive 1,561 kilometres of rivers.
Significantly contributing to this figure is a project led by Itä-Suomi Unioni ry in partnership with WWF Finland and the Municipality of Heinävesi, which will dismantle the Palokki hydropower dam, free up to 40 hectares of spawning areas for lake trout and salmon and reconnect around 1,523 kilometres of river within the Vuoksi Basin. This unique project represents one of the largest and most ambitious river connectivity restoration projects ever undertaken in Europe!
Heinävesi, Finland © Niko Jokinen
Pre-demolition projects are set to deliver major ecological benefits, with 30 barriers prepared for removal that will reconnect about 318 kilometres of river. A standout example is a project led by WWF Romania, which will carry out the necessary preparatory work for removing 16 barriers in the Dejani River in Romania, reconnecting 6 km of river and safeguarding the migration of ichthyofauna and the free movement of amphibian populations.
Lastly, among the eight “Barrier Identification and Prioritisation” grants awarded, the spotlight goes to a project led by the Danube-Carpathian Programme, covering a study of more than 15,000 km² within the Great Prypiat River catchment in Ukraine. Despite its ecological value, much of the Prypiat River basin is fragmented by extensive barrier networks. With no surveys identifying abandoned or non-operational dams, authorities lack essential data for restoration planning. This project aims to reduce that knowledge gap by mapping and prioritising barriers for removal in the most affected sub-catchments, while raising awareness for the benefits of dam removal.
Barrier in Dejani River, Romania © ICAS
Open Rivers Programme has so far supported 194 projects in 32 European countries. To date, we have supported projects that have removed 111 small dams, reconnecting 1,532 kilometres of river!
