The far-right has once again turned to one of its favourite myths. Conspiracy theorists are claiming that the recent floods in Spain are due to the “criminal removal of dams” imposed by the European Union. This conspiracy blames the EU’s environmental policies for the impact of Storm DANA, ignoring the broader climate crisis and the reality of Spain’s water management.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal responded to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments on the “dramatic reality of climate change” during the storm’s aftermath. He accused her of being the main culprit: “If there are culprits… you are the first with your criminal dam removal policy,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Other far-right figures, such as Bertrand Ndongo, echoed these accusations, harking back to Franco-era water policies as an alleged solution to flood control—a claim not supported by any recent actions involving major reservoirs.
Con los muertos sin enterrar esta señora practicando el peor acto de carroñerismo.
Si hay culpables….tú eres la primera con tu ley criminal de voladura de presas. Eres enemiga de los españoles. https://t.co/FTGf8JsLcy
— Santiago Abascal 🇪🇸 (@Santi_ABASCAL) October 30, 2024
Removing obsolete barriers for environmental restoration
The truth is that there has been no large-scale removal of dams in the affected areas, nor any recent removal of significant barriers that could have impacted flood control. The structures in question are mostly obsolete weirs and small barriers, known as azudes. These small dams do not retain water in a way that would prevent flooding. These barriers only hold back water until the river overflows them and they have no capacity to meaningfully regulate water flow during heavy rain events.
False claims of water ‘being wasted’ when rivers flow into the sea
The far-right’s claims form part of a broader denialist narrative around water management. These falsely argue that water is being “wasted” when rivers flow naturally into the sea. This misinformation gained traction during the severe droughts of 2023, with claims that “256 dams and reservoirs” had been destroyed by the Spanish government under EU pressure. This narrative falsely implied that the removal of these structures directly threatened agriculture and livestock by reducing water availability.
The EU’s strategy: restoring river ecosystems
In reality, the structures being dismantled are primarily outdated barriers that no longer serve a functional purpose. The removal aligns with the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to restore 25,000 kilometres of rivers to a free-flowing state by 2030. This approach is part of efforts to comply with the Water Framework Directive. The aim is to “recover freshwater ecosystems and the natural functions of rivers… and correct the severe impact these transverse works have on fish species and sediment transport imbalances.” Almost half of Spain’s rivers are in poor condition, in part due to the presence of such barriers.
Dam Removal Europe, an organisation tracking these efforts, reported that 241 such barriers have been dismantled in Spain over the past two years. The Ministry for Ecological Transition has also catalogued over 18,500 small barriers, mostly weirs and dams under two metres tall, across the country’s river basins that are eligible for removal to restore river ecosystems.
Spain tops Europe’s dam removal charts
Spain leads the European rankings when it comes to dam removal. The country also ranks third among EU nations with the most dams, after Germany and Switzerland. Between 2021 and 2022, Spain dismantled 256 dams, accounting for nearly 50% of all dam removals in Europe. In comparison, Germany removed only five, and Switzerland just one. While the numbers might seem impressive, the vast majority were small weirs and dams no taller than two metres.
The political use of flooding and misinformation
The narrative promoted by figures like Abascal is not new but has been amplified as Spain grapples with both severe droughts and flood disasters. Far-right discourse weaponises natural disasters to spread disinformation and sow distrust in environmental regulations and governmental bodies. A recent dispute over the Valdecaballeros dam in Extremadura exemplifies this trend. This dam was originally built to support nuclear reactors that were never constructed. Therefore, today this dam serves no major function. Nevertheless, it has become a symbol in the tug-of-war between the regional government and the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
Despite claims to the contrary, the dismantling of old and defunct infrastructure is not responsible for the ongoing droughts or the recent flooding, argues ElDiario.es. These actions are part of long-term environmental strategies designed to improve water quality and river health. In fact, the removal of such barriers often reveals the underlying mismanagement of water resources—problems that are exacerbated by climate change, not caused by EU environmental laws.
Balancing water needs and ecological health
Ultimately, the dismantling of these outdated barriers is not a “criminal” act but a necessary step to restore Spain’s river ecosystems, as mandated by EU policy. It is a careful, deliberate process that weighs the ecological benefits of free-flowing rivers against human water needs. Many of the barriers being removed have outlived their usefulness, present safety concerns, or simply no longer serve any productive role.