Removing a weir to reconnect 11.6 km of the Liri River in the Central Apennines of Italy.
The Roveto Valley, through which the Liri River flows, is highly forested and, although not protected along much of its length, acts as a vital ecological corridor between the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and the Simbruini Mountains Regional Park. This area holds strong potential for the expansion and dispersal of key terrestrial and aquatic species, such as the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), a subspecies endemic to Central Italy that now permanently occupies the orographic left side of the valley, close to the weir’s location. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), recently re-colonising the lower Liri, is also present. Several important fish species listed in the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC – including the European brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), Italian bleak (Alburnus albidus), South European roach (Rutilus rubilio), and European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus) – have been recorded near the weir.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Italy |
| River | Liri |
| Removal date | March 2025 - July 2026 |
| Km to be opened | 10 km |
| Focal species | Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), Italian chub (Squalius squalus), vairone (Telestes muticellus), Italian bleak (Alburnus albidus), gundeon (Gobio gobio), Italian barbel (Barbus plebejus), European brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), South European roach (Rutilus rubilio), Italian spined loach (Cobitis bilineata), European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus) |
| Organisation | Rewilding Apennines |
| Website | Wild Lyric project |
A total of 126 barriers have been mapped by Rewilding Apennines along the Liri River and its tributaries. Following a previously supported project from the Open Rivers Programme, the removal of the first barrier on the main river marks a critical first step in a broader process of river restoration.
This action could gain momentum and lead to the reconnection of many more kilometres of the Liri, influencing regional water management policies in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which aims to restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.
The goal of the project is to reconnect 11.6 kilometres of the Liri River by removing a 30-metre-wide weir in the municipality of San Vincenzo Valle Roveto. This intervention will enable the upstream and downstream migration of several fish species along the main river and its tributaries. Removing the weir will re-establish river continuity, promote sediment transport, and enhance microhabitat structure – particularly downstream – while supporting the development and diversification of riparian vegetation.
As the first dam removal in the catchment, the project is expected to generate positive socio-economic impacts locally and may serve as a catalyst for further barrier removals along the river’s course.
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