Molino del Cabrillas & Molino Bajo Weir Removals — NGO-Led River Reconnection on the Cabrillas (Spain)

In 2022 the NGO AEMS – Ríos con Vida, funded by the Open Rivers Programme, removed the Molino del Cabrillas weir (described as 50 m long and 3.5 m high, privately owned, with no registered water concession) and the nearby Molino Bajo weir on the River Cabrillas, a tributary of the Alto Tajo in Guadalajara.
Dam Removal Europe reports that the works restored connectivity along roughly 25 km of river (the European Investment Bank describes a free-flowing stretch of about 50 km; sources differ). The project won the Dam Removal Europe Award 2022.
Monitoring by the Blue Rivers Foundation (a 12-site European campaign) reports sediment redistribution, a diverse macroinvertebrate community and amphibian breeding signs such as common toad eggs. These are early, qualitative findings: no species counts, before/after indicators or costs are published.
Caution: local perception is mixed. The weir was used for recreational bathing, municipal authorities initially rejected the removal application, and part of the community is still not fully supportive.

Read the full analysis: https://damremoval.eu/portfolio/molino-bajo-cabrillas-spain/