Tag

Dam Removal

All articles tagged with #dam removal

environment9 hours ago•193 min saved

Rivers Reawaken: Nations Tear Down Hundreds of Dams to Restore Life

A European dam-removal surge in 2025 saw a record 603 dams and barriers removed across 21 countries, reconnecting more than 3,740 kilometers of rivers and enabling migratory fish like salmon to reclaim spawning grounds, with Finland’s Hiitolanjoki system and France’s Vezins cited; Sweden led removals with 173 barriers, and the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation targets 25,000 km of rivers by 2030. While the benefits to biodiversity and flood resilience are clear, projects require years of planning, sediment management, and ongoing maintenance; the trend mirrors US successes on the Klamath and Elwha rivers, showing rapid ecosystem recovery once barriers come down.

via CNN|

#biodiversity #dam-removal #environment

environment2 months ago•4 min saved

UN report: Freshwater fish migrations collapsing with 81% drop since 1970

A UN-backed assessment finds freshwater migratory fish populations have declined by about 81% since 1970, threatening major inland fisheries as pollution, dams, overfishing and warming waters disrupt migrations; it calls for cross-border river management and basin-wide protections.

via The Guardian|

#climate-change #dam-removal #environment

environment8 months ago•4 min saved

River Ecosystem Rebounds and Thrives Three Years After Dam Removal

A small dam in upstate New York was removed, leading to rapid ecological recovery within three years, including improved water quality, increased habitat diversity, and the return of fish and macroinvertebrates, demonstrating nature's resilience and the benefits of removing obsolete barriers to restore river health.

via Earth.com|

#biodiversity #dam-removal #ecosystem-recovery

environment11 months ago•3 min saved

Trump withdraws from Columbia River salmon recovery agreement

President Trump reversed a 2023 agreement aimed at salmon recovery and dam removal in the Columbia River Basin, halting federal funding and initiatives that supported tribes and environmental efforts, leading to condemnation from tribes and environmental groups and raising concerns about future legal and ecological impacts.

via Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB|

#columbia-river-basin #dam-removal #environment

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Massive Salmon Die-Off in California River Sparks Environmental Concerns"

Hundreds of thousands of newly hatched Chinook salmon released into the Klamath River have died from "gas bubble disease" caused by extreme changes in water pressure, following the largest dam removal project in US history. The removal of four hydropower dams aims to restore the river and its ecosystem to their natural state, benefiting local tribes and the salmon fishery. The deaths were attributed to a tunnel at the Iron Gate dam, which is scheduled for demolition, and officials plan to release more fish downstream once the dams are removed. The restoration efforts seek to address historical harm to salmon populations and the ecosystem caused by damming and water diversions, with the ultimate goal of reducing large-scale fish die-offs.

via The Guardian|

#dam-removal #environment #environmental-restoration

environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Massive Salmon Die-Off in California River After Release of 830,000 Fry"

Around 830,000 salmon fry released into California's Klamath River are believed to have died due to gas bubble disease caused by a severe change in pressure as they went through the Iron Gate Dam tunnel. The fish were the first release from the Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, part of a project to support salmon populations once the river is fully undammed. The dam and tunnel are set to be removed later this year. The incident is a stark reminder of the harm caused by dams to salmon runs in the Klamath River.

via NBC News|

#california #dam-removal #environment

environment2 years ago•3 min saved

Rivers offer limited assistance in protecting coastal wetlands from sea-level rise, scientists warn

A study published in Science reveals that large dam removal projects may not be an effective solution to combat the loss of coastal wetlands caused by sea-level rise. Researchers found that the majority of U.S. rivers do not deliver enough sediment to match the rising sea levels in their connected coastal areas. Nearly three out of every four rivers analyzed fell short of the required sediment amount by at least 10-fold. The study emphasizes that most U.S. watersheds are small and not significant sources of sediment buildup in wetlands, making dam removal ineffective in these areas. Alternative strategies, such as preserving low-lying land and restoring natural hydrology, are suggested to save tidal wetlands.

via Phys.org|

#coastal-wetlands #dam-removal #environment

environment2 years ago•5 min saved

"Tribe-led Dam Removal Project Paves Way for Sustainable Growth in the U.S."

The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is underway along the California-Oregon border, with the goal of restoring the Klamath River and its surrounding land to its natural state. Over the next decade, workers and Native American tribes will plant and monitor nearly 17 billion seeds to revive the river's ecosystem. The removal of four hydroelectric dams will open up more than 400 miles of river for threatened species of fish and other wildlife. The project aims to combat invasive species and restore the cultural and spiritual significance of the river to Native American tribes. The $500 million project is funded by taxpayers and PacifiCorps ratepayers.

via TribLIVE|

#dam-removal #ecosystem #environment

environment2 years ago•5 min saved

"Tribe-led Dam Removal Project Paves Way for Growth in the US"

The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is underway along the California-Oregon border, with the goal of restoring the Klamath River and its surrounding land to its natural state. Over the next decade, workers and Native American tribes will plant and monitor nearly 17 billion seeds to repopulate the area with native plants and create habitat for fish. The project aims to reverse the damage caused by the dams, which disrupted the river's flow and harmed salmon populations. While some homeowners and a water users association have opposed the project, the restoration efforts are seen as a crucial step in preserving the river's ecosystem and cultural significance to Native American tribes.

via The Associated Press|

#dam-removal #ecosystems #environment

environment2 years ago•5 min saved

"Tribe-led Dam Removal Project Paves Way for Growth in the US"

The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is underway along the California-Oregon border, with the goal of restoring the Klamath River and its surrounding land to its natural state. Over the next decade, workers and Native American tribes will plant and monitor nearly 17 billion seeds to repopulate the area with native plants and create habitat for fish. The removal of four hydroelectric dams will open up more than 400 miles of river for threatened species. The project aims to reverse the ecological damage caused by the dams and restore the cultural and spiritual significance of the river to Native American tribes.

via Yahoo News|

#dam-removal #ecosystems #environment

environment3 years ago•8 min saved

California invests $60M to restore salmon populations in Yuba River.

California officials will spend $60 million to build a channel along the Yuba River to allow salmon and other threatened fish species to bypass a Gold Rush-era dam that has cut off their migration for over a century. The project is part of state and federal officials' efforts to reverse the environmental damage caused by century-old infrastructure along California's major rivers and streams. The dam blocks three species of fish from migrating up the river to spawn, and the National Marine Fisheries Service declared in 2012 that the dam posed a threat to the survival of those fish species.

via KCRA Sacramento|

#california #dam-removal #environment