New Freshwater Blog Podcast Features FutureLakes
Choosing Where to Begin in Lake Restoration
A new episode of the Freshwater Blog podcast shines a spotlight on FutureLakes, exploring one of the most pressing and complex questions in European lake restoration: where do we begin?
In the episode, “Choosing where to begin: scaling up lake restoration across Europe,” presenter Rob St John brings listeners to the restored lakes of Kartuzy in Poland, where discussions from the FutureLakes midterm consortium meeting provide the backdrop for a deeper exploration of the human dimensions of restoration.
With nearly half of Europe’s lakes failing to meet basic ecological standards—and tens of thousands requiring attention—the challenge is not only technical, but strategic. Limited resources mean that not every lake can be restored at once. The podcast asks: how are priorities set, who decides, and how can restoration efforts be sustained over the long term?
From Science to Strategy
The episode brings together key voices from across the FutureLakes project. Project coordinator Laurence Carvalho (NIVA) highlights the growing recognition of lakes as critical yet often overlooked ecosystems, and points to a widening policy window across Europe to accelerate action.
Maeve McGovern (NIVA) introduces a new framework designed to support decision-making on restoration priorities, helping governments identify which lakes to focus on first based on ecological, social, and practical considerations.
Meanwhile, Åse Johannessen (Deltares) emphasises that successful restoration depends not only on science and engineering, but on governance—specifically on trust, coordination, and inclusive decision-making processes that bring stakeholders together.
The Human Side of Restoration
Recorded on location in Kartuzy, the episode shifts the focus from technical solutions to the social and institutional dynamics that shape restoration outcomes. It highlights the importance of engaging communities, aligning interests, and creating governance structures that can support lakes not just during restoration projects, but for decades beyond.
These themes reflect a broader shift within FutureLakes: from viewing restoration as a series of isolated interventions to understanding it as a long-term, collaborative process embedded in wider policy and societal contexts. The Freshwater Blog podcast episode offers a compelling reflection on the choices, trade-offs, and collaborations required to scale up lake restoration across Europe—reinforcing FutureLakes’ role in shaping not only solutions, but the conversations that will define the future of freshwater ecosystems.
Listen Now
The episode is available across major platforms: