Record Year for Dam Removals

2024 marked a record-breaking year for dam removals across Europe with a total of 542 removals.

23 countries across Europe removed dams in 2024 in an effort to restore natural river flows.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Turkey all removed a river barrier for the first time. Finland alone removed 138 barriers, with France, Spain, and Sweden following behind. Dam removals allow for the restoration of ecosystems, supporting migratory fish and other species return to their natural dynamics. Insects and birds are also postively-impacted, and a reduction in erosion and greater flood resilence is typically a result. A European Union goal of restoring 25000 kilometers of fragmented rivers is currently underway, and 2024 put the bloc off to a good start.