Europe removed a record number of dams and other barriers from its rivers in 2023, a report has found, helping to restore its disturbed waterways to their natural states. Nearly 500 barriers were taken out of European rivers last year, according to figures compiled by Dam Removal Europe, an increase of 50% from the year before. France led […]
The BBC reports how hundreds of deliberately leaky dams made of wood have been installed along a stretch of river as an innovative measure to prevent flooding. Researchers from the University of Worcester said the dams could have a dramatic impact on flooding in places including Bewdley and Ludlow. During Storm Dennis, the dams along […]
The way rivers function is significantly affected by how much sediment they transport and deposit. River sediment — mostly sand, silt and clay — plays a critical ecological role, as it provides habitat for organisms downstream and in estuaries. It is also important for human life, resupplying nutrients to agricultural soils in floodplains and buffering […]
Interesting report, covered in the Guardian At least 239 barriers, including dams and weirs, were removed across 17 countries in Europe in 2021, in a record-breaking year for dam removals across the continent. Spain led the way, with 108 structures taken out of the country’s rivers. “Our efforts to expand dam removals across Europe are […]
Bristol Water will monitor all 15 of their dams from space with HR Wallingford’s pioneering DAMSAT system, the first commercially available technology of its kind. The move demonstrates its continued commitment to protecting downstream communities and will help the water company comply with the recommendations in the Balmforth review, published recently in the wake of […]
HR Wallingford Emergency planners can use our tool, the Life Safety Model, to develop emergency plans for floods to help save lives. Technical Director Darren Lumbroso explains the vital role that such tools can play in planning how to deal with the consequences in areas where a dam is at risk of collapsing or an […]
After Whaley Bridge there will be growing focus on dam safety and the operators of this ageing infrastructure (continue) The end of emergency and the ongoing pumping set up – watch the video (continue) The summer floods of 2019 gave rise to the major emergency at the Whale Bridge reservoir. Once the immediate danger had […]