How does a river respond after a barrier is removed? Our team is back in the field to find out.
As part of the CONNECT project, we recently carried out a new environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling campaign to monitor ecological changes following the removal of the Sourinho weir. This fieldwork marks an important step in understanding how freshwater ecosystems recover once river connectivity is restored.
By collecting water samples before and after barrier removal, eDNA allows us to detect the presence of fish without capturing or disturbing them. This innovative approach provides a powerful, non-invasive tool to evaluate biodiversity recovery, monitor the recolonisation of native species, and detect the potential spread of invasive species.
The information gathered during this campaign will contribute to assessing the ecological effectiveness of dam removal and improving future river restoration strategies across Europe.
Restoring connectivity is more than removing a physical barrier—it is about reconnecting habitats, rebuilding ecological processes, and allowing rivers to function naturally again.
A big thank you to everyone involved in this successful field campaign. Stay tuned as we begin processing the samples and uncovering what the river’s DNA can tell us about its recovery.