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In Western Spain, the Yecla de Yeltes Dam has made a great influence and benefits to the local area by supplying drinking water, providing irrigation, and generating energy. However, it will be soon demolished due to negative ecosystem issues, such as threatening the habitats of endemic fish and wildlife, as well as changing the natural traits of a river system. This dam is also partly responsible for the observed decline of local animals, sarda, otters, and black storks. After the EU adopted the Water Framework Directive in 2000, the dam removal gained more momentum, in which only about half of rivers meet its environmental objectives. Even though, demolishing the dam may have positive effects, it still can mobilize toxic sediment, affect building or bridges downstream, and stop preventing the spread of invasive species. When ecologists build dams, the have little regard for the the impacts on ecosystems, for they “must not make the same mistake when dams are being removed”. Nevertheless, new dams are still built elsewhere while old barriers are being removed.

Decommission: to officially stop, withdraw, or remove something from a service.