Let's free River Pollina
This project lays the groundwork to remove nine obsolete concrete barriers at the mouth of the Pollina River in northern Sicily, reconnecting habitats and enabling the migration of the critically endangered European eel.
Introduction
The Pollina River flows through the northern part of Sicily and drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea near the town of Finale di Pollina. This dynamic Mediterranean river is typical of Sicilian fiumare – short, steep, and seasonally variable. The mouth of the river is part of the Natura 2000 site “Mouth of the Pollina River and Mount Tardara,” home to diverse species and habitats, including rare coastal dunes and endemic insects.
Currently, a stretch of 1.5 km near the river’s mouth is blocked by nine concrete barriers built in the 1980s, disrupting both sediment flow and ecological connectivity with the sea.
Project context and opportunity
The Pollina River is one of the most ecologically promising waterways in Sicily, but its connection to the sea is broken by obsolete flood control barriers that fragment habitats and prevent species like the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from completing their life cycle. River restoration and dam removal are virtually unheard of in Sicily, and this project is the first of its kind.
Following on a previous project supported by the Open Rivers Programme, the feasibility study supported by this grant not only prepares for the actual removals but also serves as a demonstration project to shift attitudes among institutions and the public, showing that nature-based solutions can improve flood resilience, reduce maintenance costs, and bring back biodiversity.
Project aims
The project aims to complete a feasibility study for the removal of nine transverse barriers along the final 1.5 km of the Pollina River, unlocking 18 km of main channel and 17.8 km of tributaries for migratory species like the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The study will include topographic and ecological surveys, hydrological and morphodynamic modelling, and participatory planning sessions with stakeholders.
The ultimate outcome is to deliver a ready-to-implement restoration plan that can secure demolition funding and initiate Sicily’s first full river reconnection. This project also seeks to create a shift in how flood risk is managed in the region – highlighting the benefits of dynamic river processes over outdated hard infrastructure.
Through public events, multimedia storytelling, and scientific dissemination, the project will inspire replication in other river basins across Sicily and beyond.
Video
Get familiar with river Pollina, from this video reflecting upon the ecological status and the work we are currently undertaking to free the river and restore crucial habitat.
(c) Mathia Coco
