From Broken Rivers to Free-Flowing Rivers
Weir at Ximonde, in the river Ulla, Galicia (Spain) – Photo © Jorjum
Reducing Uncertainty to Effectively Restore Free-Flowing Rivers
Barriers
What is a Barrier?
We consider ALL barriers to free flow: longitudinal, such as dams, weirs or culverts, as well as lateral ones, such as embankments or levees.
Break
River Connectivity
We acknowledge all aspects of river connectivity, including the exchange of sediment, energy and living organisms.
Rivers
Are Fragmented
We study fragmentation across whole river networks, considering their spatial distribution and cumulative impacts.
Latest news
The Ximonde weir and the extinction of the Atlantic Salmon
The article urges removing Ximonde, Couso, and Sinde weirs, arguing they block migratory fish, defy restoration laws, waste public funds, and worsen salmon decline despite costly, ineffective fish passages and monitoring.
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2026 Summer Field Work – Free Flow Lab Internships
The summer fieldwork season in river assessments is concluding, highlighting the impact of barriers on river connectivity and ecosystems. University of Vigo students aided in sampling and documenting barrier effects on hydrogeomorphology and…
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Our Projects
Try out our game: El Juego del Salmón
the first salmon to reach the headwaters wins!
The first version of our game is out for everyone to download and play! Become a salmon in its upstream migration where you will have to jump over dams, avoid predators and pollution and even demolish or construct dams to slow down opponents and become the first salmon to reach the spawning grounds!
