We are thrilled to present the 4^th edition of the European Dam Removal Award, celebrating the most inspiring riverine barrier removal projects in 2024 with a prize of 20.000 euros. Removing barriers to restore rivers teeming with fish and thriving communities is close to our hearts, and we cannot wait to hear your story!  

Barrier removal comes in all shapes and sizes, and each one has a remarkable story to tell. This award isn’t necessarily about the tallest dam or the longest culvert removed. What truly matters is your project’s journey – how it all started, the driving forces behind it, the challenges you conquered, and most importantly, the social and environmental impacts of the removal. Your unique story is what inspires and makes a difference! 

About the award

Wetlands International Europe is coordinating the award on behalf of Dam Removal Europe to celebrate the most innovative and inspiring river barrier removal projects across the continent. We want to acknowledge the important work of dam removal practitioners, river users, communities, and authorities who put their hearts into these projects restoring free-flowing rivers.

The award is hosted by Dam Removal Europe, and supported by the European Investment Bank, McMillen and EKOenergy. The winner will be awarded 20.000 euros towards the team’s next removal project!  

This year’s award is a celebration of the best dam removal projects in Europe from 2024, aimed at acknowledging the achievements of civil society coalitions that have successfully removed barriers. Our purpose is to recognise their remarkable efforts and inspire others in this vital field. So, if you and your partners are proud of your work, let it serve as an inspiration for others to follow in your footsteps! 

Submissions are welcome until 6 June 2025, and the award winner will be revealed at an event in Luxembourg in October. 

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT HERE

How to apply

1. Share your remarkable initiative by using our online application form on Zealous. Before you begin, carefully read the general rules and guidelines to ensure your submission is well-prepared.  
2. We recommend looking at the application form first, which will help you organise your answers and the mandatory uploads. 
3. Now you’re ready to make your submission. The form will prompt you with questions about your partnership, the barrier, including its location, use, height, and more. Following these, you’ll find five open questions to tell your story, covering aspects like innovation, challenges faced, impact, stakeholder involvement and communications.  
4. Additionally, there are two mandatory uploads: (1) a high-resolution photo of the barrier before removal, (2) a high-resolution photo of the barrier after removal, and one optional upload (3) a short video of approximately one-minute briefly explaining the project and telling us why your project should win the award. Please note that all finalists will be required to submit a video. See the guidance below

Showcase the importance of your dam removal and make a compelling case for why you deserve this award! 

The application period is open from 29 April 2025 at 12:00 CET and runs until 6 June 2025 at 12:00 CET. If you encounter trouble submitting the project, please contact Teresa Zuna at [email protected]  before the nomination deadline stated above.  

Submit to the European Dam Removal Award 2024

General rules

• Define barrier type: Your project should focus on the removal of a barrier, including dams, weirs, culverts, sluices, or fords. These barriers must have been fully or partially removed to allow fish passage and ecological flow (not including fish passages or bypasses).  
• Your barrier removal project must have been executed and completed in 2024, including the technical work involved in dam removal.  
• Each organisation or partnership of organisations can submit and be nominated for only one project.  
• Projects can only be submitted by the primary organisation responsible for the execution of the project.  
• A single barrier removal project can involve multiple barrier removals completed in 2024. 
• Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.  
• By submitting your photos and videos, you agree to allow Dam Removal Europe to use them in its communication. Ensure that you include any necessary photo credit and copyright information. Videos should be approximately one minute long and can be in your own language, along with English subtitles if necessary.  
• Award-winning projects from previous years are not eligible for resubmission.  
• The decision of the jury is final, and Dam Removal Europe will not discuss or justify the choices of the jury and outside of discovery of disqualifying facts. 
• All submissions must be filed in the English language.  

Please ensure that your application adheres to these guidelines for successful submission to the European Dam Removal Award. 

Selection process

All submissions will be checked for compliance with general rules and only complete submissions (including mandatory uploads) will be accepted. The jury will select three projects as finalists for the award. In September 2025, these finalists will be presented for a public vote. The winner will be determined through a combination of the jury’s evaluation (70%) and public vote (30%). The official award ceremony is scheduled for October in Luxembourg, hosted by the Water Management Agency. 

Criteria for selection

• Significance: The relative importance for the river and the amount of connectivity restored, the story behind the removal and why it mattered in your country.  
• How the removal was done: From your partners to feasibility studies, funding sources and the technical details of the removal. 
• Communications and public engagement: Communications and public engagement: How the project was communicated to stakeholders by you and others, how people were engaged and any opposition overcome. 
• Impacts, monitoring and indicators: expected benefits, importance, monitoring framework and indicators used. 
• Experience and Learning: Innovative approaches, keys to success and learning opportunities created.  
• Photos and video statement: Before and after photos and a short explanatory video of approximately one minute detailing why the project should be awarded.  

You will be informed about every step of the process automatically through the award submission platform Zealous.  

Disclaimer: The selection procedure will be carried out by an independent team to prevent potential conflicts of interest. For the Dam Removal Europe partners who are also removing dams, this means that they will not be involved in the pre-selection nor the jury procedure. 

The jury

The jury is international and interdisciplinary. The members are experts in nature conservation, freshwater ecosystems, fish, community innovations and communications. Each of them contributes their unique perspective on barrier removal and river restoration, culminating in a well-balanced and diverse team.  

The award

Up to three finalists will be invited to an award event in Luxembourg. The monetary prize for the most inspiring project is 20.000 euros, which is to be spent by winner on their next removal. All finalists will be highlighted in Dam Removal Europe communication channels.   

Don’t miss the chance to make a difference! Submissions are open until June 6, 2025 12:00 CET, and remember that each removal is unique and no matter what size it is, it contributes to freeing our rivers.  

LET’S KEEP REMOVING OBSTACLES AND LET RIVERS RUN FREE!