Removal of Inturia weir, Leitzaran river, Oria river basin. © URA Agencia Vasca del Agua

A special session on dam removal will be held in the next VI Iberian Congress of Ichthyology SIBIC2016

How many obstacles do Spain and Portugal have in their rivers? What is their situation? How many are abandoned or not being used? How many are not being maintained? How many have fishways? Little is known, but a lot is expected from Basin Authorities to solve the longitudinal fragmentation problems in our rivers due to the Water Framework Directive obligations.

In this special session we want to show professionals: Why other countries, like USA, are removing so many dams and how are they carrying it out so successfully? What is the situation in Europe? Which is the most important dam removal project being done in this moment in Europe? What are the key points to take into account in a dam removal project from a legal-administrative perspective? How can we improve and lighten this process? How can we create funds to help owners remove their dams? and much more. At the end, there will be a round table to discuss and answer questions between the experts presenting and the professionals attending.

PROGRAM

  • Opening Session. Jeroen van Herk (World Fish Migration Foundation – WWF)
  • Dam Removal in USA & Europe. Why and what is the status? Presentation of AMBER (Horizon 2020). Pao Fernández Garrido (World Fish Migration Foundation)
  • Dams Removal is happening:
    • Dams’ removal in the Sélune River (France): overview of the related long-term research program. Jean-Luc Baglinière and Stephane Fraisse (Pôle Onema-Inra Gest’aqua)
    • Law and dam removal: How to carry out dams and weirs removal projects successfully. Pedro Brufao Curiel (Universidad de Extremadura)
  • Dam Removal Movement – Goals and status. Jeroen van Herk (World Fish Migration Foundation – WWF)

At the end, there will be a round table to discuss and answer questions between the experts presenting and the professionals attending.