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Salmon Return: France Reclaims River's Heart
16 Jul
Summary
- Two French dams blocking salmon for nearly 100 years were removed.
- Demolition reopened 91 kilometers of the Sélune River for fish migration.
- Atlantic salmon returned to the river shortly after dam removal.
For nearly a hundred years, the Vezins and La Roche-Qui-Boit dams on France's Sélune River prevented Atlantic salmon from accessing 91 kilometers of their historic spawning grounds. These structures transformed a free-flowing river into reservoirs, significantly impacting migratory fish like salmon, eels, and lampreys.
In 2022, France completed the largest European dam demolition, removing the second of these barriers. This collaborative effort, involving government, environmental groups, scientists, and the community, began the Sélune River's restoration. This project is now considered one of Europe's most significant river recovery initiatives.
Following the demolition, Atlantic salmon were observed returning to previously inaccessible stretches of the river within months. The river is also showing early signs of ecosystem recovery, with native vegetation and aquatic insects reappearing. This successful reconnection demonstrates the viability of restoring heavily degraded ecosystems.
The removal of obsolete dams is a growing conservation trend across Europe, aligning with the EU's Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. France, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and the UK are actively working to reconnect rivers and improve fish migration routes, aiming to restore at least 25,000 kilometers of free-flowing rivers.
