The European Open Rivers Programme is delighted to announce its support for 24 new projects, aimed at restoring the ecological health of endangered European rivers. These initiatives represent a major step forward in efforts to remove obsolete river barriers leading to the revitalisation of freshwater ecosystems, benefitting nature, biodiversity and local communities.
The recently awarded projects are categorised into four grant types: A1 barrier identification and prioritisation, A2 pre-demolition, and A3 and A4 demolition. Among the demolition projects, funding will be provided for the removal of 10 barriers, which are expected to open up 319.6 kilometres of rivers.
Two of the demolition projects will be implemented in Finland and are expected to open up to 275 kilometres of river in total.
One is led by WWF Finland in partnership with NOUSU – a programme of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in southeast Finland. The goal of the project is to restore the natural reproduction of salmonid fish in Kurunkoski and to open a free migration route to the water bodies upstream of the current dam. The catchment area above the Kurunkoski Dam covers 228 kilometres². Removing the dam and replacing it with a small bottom sill upstream will allow unrestricted movement of wildlife, water and sediment in the river, opening free-flowing river stretches from 63 km (main stems only) to 175 km (including smaller tributaries).
The other is led by the City of Järvenpää. The Kaitarannankoski Dam (also known as Haarajoki Dam) is the last dam on River Keravanjoki preventing migratory fishes from going upstream. Removing the dam will reconnect 100 kilometres of river, restoring the migratory routes of fish such as sea trout and Atlantic salmon, along with other river fauna, throughout the entire river.
Pre-demolition projects are also expected to result in significant ecological impact once the removals are carried out. A project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Vrelo NGO, is preparing the removal of six barriers in the Trebišnjica River, historically known as the largest sinking river in Europe. These efforts will lead to the reconnection of approximately 13 kilometres of river.
Open Rivers Programme has so far supported 152 projects in 32 European countries. To date, we have supported projects that have removed 82 small dams, reconnecting over 800 kilometres of river. Once all currently active projects are completed, a total of 131 barriers will have been removed, reopening over 1,500 kilometres of river.
