Fragmented rivers are frequently considered heavily modified water bodies as river barriers affect the natural state and flow of the river. The ecological effects of barri­ers model demonstrates how barriers may affect natural aquatic habitats, and consequently alter the species and communities that live there. This model shows the expect­ed impact of a single barrier on local habitat conditions at a regional scale with all possible mitigation measures applied. It also allows for an estimate of how this impact is increased by multiple barriers along the river.

This tool may be useful for the adaptive management of bar­riers and toward fulfilling the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive, accelerating the achievement of good ecological potential of heavily modified water bodies.