In 2025, Europe reached a new milestone in river restoration by removing 603 water barriers across 21 countries—an 11% increase over the prior year and a sixfold rise compared to just six years ago. This surge has helped reclaim vital habitats for fish and other wildlife, reconnecting rivers on a continental scale.
- 603 barriers removed across 21 countries in 2025
- Over 3,700 kilometers of river habitat reopened
- New participants included Iceland and North Macedonia
What happened
In 2025, crews in Europe dismantled a record number of 603 water barriers, surpassing previous annual totals by 11%. This achievement reflects five consecutive years of growing activity in restoring free-flowing rivers. Most removals involved small, largely forgotten structures like culverts and weirs, with only a small fraction being larger dams, some of which had already ceased operation. Sweden led the effort with 173 removals, followed by Finland and Spain.
Notably, two countries— Icel and North Macedonia—joined the movement for the first time, removing dams that had blocked fish passage for decades. These efforts collectively reconnected more than 3,740 kilometers of rivers, a distance akin to driving from Lisbon to Moscow, creating new opportunities for fish migration and ecosystem recovery.
Why it feels good
Removing obsolete barriers addresses a major threat to freshwater ecosystems. Nearly half of Europe’s freshwater fish species face extinction risks due to habitat fragmentation caused by dams and other blockages. Restoring river connectivity allows fish to reach breeding grounds and supports the natural flow of sediment essential for habitat health. These projects often have rapid ecological benefits because many of the structures removed are small and can be taken down quickly with lower costs.
The success of these efforts symbolizes how environmental restoration can become integrated into mainstream policy and public support. The growing number of barrier removals across diverse European countries demonstrates a continental commitment and inspires hope for reversing centuries of river modification.
What to enjoy or watch next
Looking ahead, the restoration community aims to continue scaling up barrier removal to tackle the estimated 1.2 million barriers still fragmenting Europe’s rivers, of which over 150,000 are considered obsolete. Continued progress will focus on identifying barriers with the most ecological benefit when removed, especially those impacting threatened species and sensitive habitats.
New restoration projects in Southern Europe and other underrepresented regions will be important to balance recent concentration of removals in Northern countries. Encouraging more nations to join in and track results will help maintain momentum. Watching how river ecosystems respond and how local communities engage in restoration efforts promises to make this one of the largest and most achievable ecological wins of the decade.