For a free-flowing Giovenco River
The Giovenco River is an Apennine watercourse that originates at an altitude of 1,250 m above sea level in the mountainous portion of the valley of the same name. In the upper part of its basin, it receives numerous seasonal and perennial spring contributions. At the foot of the mountains, a barrier used to store water for irrigation blocks the river. Further downstream, the Giovenco becomes a heavily modified, regulated, and cemented water body, which flows into the Fucino collector channel known as the “Immissario Torlonia”, and then into the 120-km-long Liri River. Overall, the Giovenco catchment area covers 90 km², and the total length of the stream is about 44 km, with an average flow rate of 0.8 m³/s, which decreases significantly in the summer season. It serves as a natural corridor, connecting the vast area of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park to the Sirente Velino Regional Park.
A pre-demolition grant for this demolition was completed in 2023.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Italy |
| River | Giovenco |
| Removal date | 2024 |
| Km opened | 3 km |
| Focal species | Salmo macrostigma or Salmo cettii, Austropotamobius pallipes, Lutra lutra, Ursus arctos marsicanus |
| Key habitats | Riparian forest in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park |
| Organisation | Rewilding Apennines |
| Website | Rewilding Apennines |
The mountainous part of the Giovenco River remains largely natural, with continuous riparian strips. However, there are 15 small dams, built at different times and for various purposes – some of which are no longer in use – resulting in a loss of river continuity. This fund has provided Rewilding Apennines with the opportunity to remove 5 of these weirs, while also enhancing technical and practical knowledge of the Italian bureaucratic process related to dam removal. As a result, it will be possible to replicate dam removal on other barriers and increase the impact of river restoration both within and beyond the area. These initiatives will become more easily eligible for European structural funds (e.g., regional programmes), and they will positively influence policies aimed at “freeing rivers”, in line with the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which aims to restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.
The project aims to demolish 5 of these weirs. The removal project will restore the natural longitudinal profile of the riverbed, reactivating hydrodynamic, morphological, and ecological processes that have been blocked by the presence of the weirs. It will improve the biodiversity of the river ecosystem, eliminate a visual detractor in a valley of high environmental value within one of the oldest national parks in Europe, and serve as a demonstration model to be replicated elsewhere, both within and beyond the landscape. This will have a positive socio-economic impact on local communities, combining the benefits of biodiversity conservation with the aspirations of sustainable development in an area where human activities have coexisted in balance with nature for centuries. The Giovenco River can become a case study, demonstrating how a river can be protected by local communities, paving the way for future projects on wildlife restoration, including efforts for white-clawed crayfish and Mediterranean trout, and where the return of the otter is expected in the coming seasons after 50 years of extinction.
Agreements were signed in September 2024, with monitoring beginning later that month. All necessary permits were secured by October, allowing work to commence on the 22nd. The removal of the five weirs and walls was completed by November 20, followed by restoration work and final site demobilization on December 5.
Public engagement played a key role, with meetings and events held to inform and involve local communities. Detailed monitoring surveys were conducted to assess the environmental impact, establishing a baseline for future studies.
Despite some challenges, the project was executed efficiently, benefiting from favourable weather conditions and a skilled workforce. The initiative was largely well received, with concerns addressed through technical explanations and hydraulic modelling. Future monitoring will help evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention.
The project was completed in February 2025.
Funded by
