By hindering the free movement of water, organisms and sediment, artificial barriers on rivers constitute significant pressures for about 20% of European surface water bodies, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) that was published on 8 February.
According to this report, there are barriers on most European rivers in the form of large dams in particular, but especially small structures, the small individual effects of which accumulate along the course of the river...