Environment✓ Verified

Record water barrier removal in Europe reaches 603 dams in 2025, the sixth-fold increase in six years

Reported byHappy Eco News ↗·Sourced by Goodlede

What backs it

Crews dismantled 603 river barriers across 21 countries in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024 and the fifth consecutive year of growth, with removals rising from about 100 per year six years ago to six times that number. Sweden led with 173 removals, Finland with 143, and Spain rounded out the top three, reconnecting over 3,740 kilometers of rivers.

Worth noting

Most removals were small structures—culverts (50%) and weirs (31%)—rather than large dams; only about 5% were former hydropower facilities.

Systemic / trendWell established✓ Verified

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