30 Dams Removed Since 2022

The Catalan Water Agency (Agència Catalana de l'Aigua, ACA) has completed the removal of 30 small dams and river obstacles across Catalonia, 28 in internal river basins and two in the Ebro basin, to restore natural river continuity, according to reporting published on 11 October 2026. One-third of these demolitions have taken place in the past four years, as part of an intensified restoration effort.

EU Restoration Mandate Drives Action

The work supports the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, which requires 25,000 kilometres of free-flowing rivers across Europe by 2030. Mònica Bardina, head of Planning and River Restoration at the ACA, stated that authorities are now obligated to assess how many kilometres of rivers currently flow without obstruction and to submit proposals to the Spanish ministry accordingly.

  • Approximately 1,100 structures hinder river connectivity in internal basins.
  • Most are under five metres high; about a third are unused and candidates for removal.
  • The ACA has identified nearly 100 obsolete barriers eligible for demolition.

When a dam’s concession expires or it falls into disuse, the ACA can initiate legal proceedings to terminate the permit and require the owner to restore the river to its natural state. However, many owners delay or resist, often hiring lawyers to contest the process. If owners fail to act, the administration may carry out the works "subsidiarily" and later seek reimbursement, though the Catalan government has not yet recovered any costs from such interventions.

The continuity of rivers is one of the indicators we consider most important.

Some opposition comes from local communities. "Certain dams are part of the landscape or industrial heritage, and residents have an emotional attachment," Bardina acknowledged. Where structures are classified as Assets of Cultural Interest (BCIN), demolition is not permitted, and alternative solutions must be explored.

Ecological and Flood Benefits

Beyond removing vertical barriers, the ACA is also working to restore lateral connectivity, allowing rivers to spread into natural floodplains. This reduces the force of flash floods by dispersing water over wider areas. The removal of a six-metre dam on the Calders stream in Monistrol de Calders led to a measurable drop in greenhouse gas emissions, as stagnant organic matter had been producing methane. The regional government has quintupled funding for river restoration in its latest hydrological plan and intends to keep increasing investment. Ongoing projects include the planned removal of two dams on the Fluvià river in Olot and three on the Major stream in Sant Sadurní d’Osormort.

Primary sources: Agència Catalana de l'Aigua, aigua.blog.gencat.cat, info.aca.gencat.cat. Reported by diaridegirona.cat, elperiodico.com, lavanguardia.com, L'Empordà, Diari de Girona.