Record Number of Dams Removed From Europe’s Rivers in 2021
2021 was a record-breaking year for dam-breaking, according to a report released this month by Dam Removal Europe, an organization that works to restore the flow of European rivers that have “high natural or cultural importance.”
The group estimates that at least 150,000 outdated, nonfunctional barriers “clog” European waterways.
“Dams disrupt the natural functioning of rivers and can cause a wide-scale decline in fish and other river wildlife,” according to the organization.
“For these reasons, it is necessary to remove these barriers to return rivers to their natural, free-flowing state.”
The report notes that in 2021:
- At least 239 river barriers were removed from 17 European countries. This was an increase of 137 percent over 2020.
- Spain removed more barriers (108) than did all other European countries combined in 2020 (101).
- The first of three dams in the Hiitolanjoki project, the largest river restoration project in Finland, was demolished.
- Three countries (Portugal, Montenegro and Slovakia) recorded their first-ever dam removals.
- 76 percent of the removed barriers were lower than 2 meters (6.6 feet).
One of the key goals of the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (part of the European Green Deal) is to restore at least 25,000 kilometers (about 15,500 miles) of rivers to a free-flowing state, according to the report.
Pao Fernández Garrido, who helped produce Dam Removal Europe’s annual report, told The Guardian, “Our efforts to expand dam removals across Europe are gathering speed.”
He added:
“An increasing number of governments, NGOs, companies and communities are understanding the importance of halting and reversing nature loss, and buying into the fact that dam removal is a river-restoration tool that boosts biodiversity and enhances climate resilience.
We’re also seeing lessons being learned from previous dam removals, new countries kickstarting removals, and new funds, including crowdfunding.”
In Sweden, only about 2,000 of approximately 11,000 dams produce energy, with just 200 producing more than 10 megawatts, according to Margaretha Svenning of Sweden’s Älvräddarnas Waterkeeper.
These dams have destroyed river ecosystems and important fisheries, Svenning wrote in the Spring 2021 issue of Waterkeeper, the Waterkeeper Alliance magazine.
“Dam removals, no matter how small or large, are desirable for both biodiversity and climate action,” she added.
The outcomes of the Dam Removal Europe report were presented at the 7th Dam Removal Europe seminar, “Connected Rivers,” in Lisbon May 19-21, in conjunction with World Fish Migration Day, which is May 21.
Restoring rivers in the U.S.
Waterkeeper Alliance, founded by Children’s Health Defense Chairman Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., advocates for dam removal where possible and a halt to the construction of new dams.
According to the Waterkeeper Alliance website:
“Hydropower, generated by dams and reservoirs, is a false solution to climate change that should not be promoted as a source of clean energy and should not benefit from climate incentives. Hydroelectric dams and their reservoirs create tremendous amounts of methane.
They also negatively impact biodiversity, Indigenous communities, river-based livelihoods and communities, and destroy wildlife habitats. We call for a global halt on all new dam construction, prioritization of dam removal where feasible, and robust mitigation for the damage done by those facilities we cannot yet remove.”
In the U.S., more than 50 dams were removed in 2021, according to the group American Rivers, which in February released its report “Free Rivers: The State of Dam Removal in the U.S.”
American Rivers tracks dam removal trends and maintains a national dam removal database. The group claims 1,957 dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1912.
In addition to restoring healthy habitats for fish and other wildlife, dam removals make sense economically, according to American Rivers.
“Every $1 million invested in restoring watersheds generates 16 jobs and up to $2.5 million for the economy,” the group states on its website.
American Rivers also released a list of 25 dam removal projects to watch in 2022 and beyond.
“There are thousands of dams that need to come down in the U.S., and there are opportunities for river restoration at every size and scale,” said Tom Kiernan, American Rivers president and CEO, in a press release.
See more here: childrenshealthdefense.org
Header image: Wikipedia
Editor’s note: Improper maintenance of waterways, which includes removing dams, results in reduced irrigation and increased flooding, which is then blamed on ‘climate change’.
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Victoria Alexander
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Why is it that when beavers create damns it is good for the ecosystem?
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Howdy
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Natural occurrence as they breed, Ms Alexander. They are later removed.
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MattH
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Them naughty old beavers create a dam that does not inhibit fish migration. The dam created by the beasties beavering away breaks the stream out of the stream bed so that the dam margins are irrigated and verdant pasture and wetlands create cover, habitat and three course meals for other beasties.
Them hydro electric dams built by angelic mankind do not generally have fish passes or ‘ladders’ because fish ladders require the spilling of water which fails to generate electricity. Profit opportunities lost. Minimum flow regulations in relation to hydroelectric dams can still be a little uncertain.
Hydro electric dams can create water storage, great habitat and recreation opportunities if fish migration is accommodated and a potential bottom line for operation.
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Moffin
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Hydro dams also inhibit flood pulses which can create comprehensives lists of pros and cons.
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Mark Tapley
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Hello Moffin:
As you stated about dams, there are pros and cons. When rivers are not dammed, the natural deposition of top soil occurs over long periods of time as in the Nile delta and as has happened with the Mississippi and Red river deltas. On the other hand sometimes rivers flood or change course. The Mississippi River does not want to follow its present course by New Orleans but if left alone would have plowed a path through the Atchafalaya basin to Morgan City.
As for beavers, they don’t always stay around running water, especially if there are very dry conditions. They will sometimes migrate into ponds and can dig tunnels in the dam, compromising the structure. Thats when you have to wait for them to surface and apply rule 30-06. No beavers, no problem.
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Whokoo
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A lot of caliber and velocity for a little beastie.
Jerry Krause
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Hi Mark,
You wrote: “They will sometimes migrate into ponds and can dig tunnels in the dam, ”
Beavers do not dig tunnels in earthen dams, nutria do. And nutria do not build dams.
Have a good day, Jerry
Jerry Krause
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Hi Mark,
You wrote: “They will sometimes migrate into ponds and can dig tunnels in the dam, ”
Beavers do not dig tunnels in earthen dams, nutria do. And nutria do not build dams.
Have a good day, Jerry
Jerry Krause
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Hi Matt,
Good comment! Four dams on the Klamath River in California, which drains the high desert country of southwest Oregon, are slated for removal, because of a migratory fish issue. I do not know if there are ‘fish ladders’ as you suggest there could be, and should be, in the case of migratory fish.
I have suggested that a perpetual political candidate for the US Senate held by her opponent of at least two 6 year terms should make the removal, slated to begin before the end of this year, of the first of the four dams a major political issue.
I do not know much about European dams and those that are in New Zealand, but relative to dams in Oregon and the USA a major purpose of dams is FLOOD CONTROL, which you did not mention. For a significant portion of the USA is at latitudes greater than the highest of the Southern Hemisphere’s continents except for Antarctica. Hence, before dams, spring time melting of the snow which fell during the fall-winter seasons and commonly does not melt until the spring season, can still cause major downstream flooding, even with dams. And it a common fact that towns and cities are generally built along streams and rivers.
Another fact about streams and rivers is that their water is fresh water. Hence, without dams all precipitation rapidly flows downhill to the seas and oceans.
My point, which I am suggesting that the Senate candidate to make. is THAT there ARE at least TWO VERY PRACTICAL PURPOSES for DAMS.
I conclude with the observation that PRACTICAL is a word I seldom read these days.
Have a good day, Jerry
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MattH
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Hi Jerry. I had Moffin mention flood control for me. Water storage for irrigation and water consumption and electricity generation is critical . One of the necessary developments is a limit on the intensity of nitrate and phosphate application with irrigation.
Excess fertilizer application merely creates excess fertilizer runoff which in turn create algal blooms which in turn create hypoxic water and dead zones, mass fish deaths in summer etc.
I gotta go, but the biggest problem with politics in this country is they discuss things rather than use analysis. Belief systems rather than current scientific understanding. I will expand another time.
Cheers. Matt
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Mark Tapley
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Hello Jerry:
These were beavers. They are excellent diggers. I killed them and recovered their heavy cement bag looking carcasses. I then had to get get a back hoe out to repair my dam. I know what Nutria rats look like and have never seen any in N.E. Texas. These were beavers. Dead beavers.
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Heretic Jones
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I’ve always wanted to open a shop selling beer, wine, and spirits, and call it Beaver Liquors.
Jerry Krause
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Hi Mark,
Thank you for pointing out that beavers do burrow (dig holes) in earthen banks (including earthen dams). For I fact checked your information and have learned something which I didn’t know.
Have a good day, Jerry
Herb Rose
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I do not believe there are any beaver dams in Europe since they are native to North America.
Herb
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Herb Rose
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Correction. I looked it up and there are beaver in Europe.
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Mark Tapley
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Hi Jones:
And both can get you in a lot of trouble. Especially the last one.
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Joseph Olson
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RFK, Jr is a DAM idiot. Dams also control flooding, provide domestic water and agricultural irrigation, as well as replenishing aquifers. Treated municipal effluent is discharged into waterways providing marine habitat during low flow periods. Most GREEN TROPES ARE EMOTIVE, FAUX SCIENCE FRAUDS.
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Geraint HUghes
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I am wondering why anyone went to the trouble to build the dam if doing so would have been bad. My best guess is, to stop flooding, so no I am going to predict that we are going to see more floods as a result of this policy of removing dams which stopped floods.
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Seriously
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No no no….the missing dams won’t cause the flooding…it’ll be ‘climate change’😂 Get past a generation and you can forge a new dialog…well, it used to be that way. Now the average person has so much useless information bombarding the senses on a regular basis that really, only need a few months to a year. Anyone shouting out the truth drowns in sea of ‘conspiracy theory ‘. Remember? The climate was warming, I don’t know, for how may years now?…that doesn’t hold up to analysis so now its changed to climate ‘change’-an oxymoron since it is Always changing…(sigh…) No one pays attention to words anymore but they matter still when trying to see they the veil…🥸
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