<p>Fragmentation through artificial barriers significantly impacts the condition of German surface waters. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU Nature Restoration Law aim to dismantle unnecessary transverse structures, restoring at least 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers across Europe by 2030. WWF Germany commissioned an analysis to identify barriers in German rivers with high ecological potential and feasibility for removal. This “Living Rivers” project, funded by the German Postcode Lottery, focuses on the complete removal of transverse structures rather than just enabling passage by means like fish ladders or bypasses. Hence the hydromorphological conditions are improved by adressing the impacts on migratory fish pathways and natural sediment flow. The analysis prioritized which barriers should be removed for optimal ecological benefits, using a system based on connectivity, location within the watershed, fragmentation, and habitat quality. The operational feasibility of removal for high-priority barriers was then assessed for each federal state. Structures that are highly unlikely to be removed, such as dams or recently constructed hydropower plants were no longer considered whereas criteria including historical significance, legal status or environmental impact can have both positive or negative effects on the assessment of feasibility. Finally, 16 case studies were developed to exemplify feasible removals with significant ecological impact, reconnecting 415.6 km of free-flowing rivers. The case studies include details on the barriers' original function, ecological benefits of removal, and geographical context. </p>