| Fotolia © Tom Bayer

Information Platform for the Restoration of Rivers

Project
Duration: May 2017 - Jan 2020

In the context of this project an information platform was developed to share information about the restoration of rivers including examples of selected restoration projects. The aim of the information platform is to increase attention and acceptance for restoration measures and communicate their need and benefits. The information platform is also intended to assist the German Federal States in their communication with bodies and organizations involved in river restoration. The potential stakeholders involved in hydromorphological improvements and the restoration of rivers include municipalities and watercourse associations.

The German information platform offers information on:

Planning and implementing river restoration projects,
Synergies of river restoration (e. g. nature conservation, flood protection, recreation, climate change adaptation)
ten project examples across Germany where a wide variety of measures were implemented.

Four free infographics illustrate the information:

An explanatory film introduces potential stakeholders and actors into the topic of river and stream restoration in Germany.

River restoration projects across Germany are presented and explained in ten short films:

An English excerpt of the online platform on river restoration is available online.

Furthermore, the project investigates to which extent the UBA method for the evaluation of river restoration measures ("Erfolgskontrolle von Fließgewässerrenaturierungen" UBA Texte 43/2014 [pdf, 7.8 MB, German]) is known and how it is used by practictioners.

Renaturierung von Fließgewässern: ein Blick in die Praxis

Abschlussbericht

Year 2021

Publication:Brochure

Cover of the publication "Our brooks and rivers". Background image shows a restored river basin.

This brochure provides insights into the contents of the Federal Environment Agency's online information platform "River restoration". The aim of the platform and this brochure is to motivate and support potential actors for increased implementation of river restoration measures. Therefore, basic knowledge on the ecological development of rivers and brooks is provided in a clear and understandable way. It also provides information on practical issues of planning, financing and land provision, but also on flood protection, nature conservation, agriculture and recreation. Restoration project examples further illustrate these topics. The brochure is available for download.

Unsere Bäche und Flüsse

renaturieren – entwickeln – naturnah unterhalten

Year 2020

Publication:Article

Cover of the German journal Korrespondenz Wasserwirtschaft 4/2020

This article introduces the German Federal Environment Agency's online information platform on river restoration. It was designed, compiled and implemented between 2017 and 2020 by Ecologic Institute, Planungsbüro Zumbroich and IGF Jena. The information platform provides basic knowledge on the restoration of rivers and serves to gain acceptance for restoration measures. It addresses towns and municipalities, water management authorities, water bodies associations, fishing associations and citizens' groups.

Mehr Aufmerksamkeit für gewässerökologische Maßnahmen

Umweltbundesamt startet Online-Informationsplattform zu Renaturierung von Fließgewässern

Year 2020

Publication:Document

Cover Website Concept River Restoration 2017

Kemper, Melanie, Georg Lamberty, Falko Wagner 2017: Informationsplattform Gewässerrenaturierung – Website Konzept, Berlin, September 2017, unpublished.

Informationsplattform Gewässerrenaturierung – Website Konzept

Year 2017

Publication:Website

This information platform provides information for potential actors of renaturation projects. The aim of river restoration is to return rivers and streams to their natural state and to improve their ecological status.

Information Platform on River Restoration

Year 2019

Publication:Video

The water landscape of the Hase and its tributaries Lower Saxony is ecologically upgraded. The dykes are relocated, floodplain revitalisations and watercourse conversions are carried out. This can only be done in close cooperation with all those involved, but above all with agriculture, which makes land available and extensifies uses.

Auenrevitalisierung in Kooperation mit der Landwirtschaft an der Hase

Revitalisation of River Hase's Floodplains in Cooperation with Farmers

Year 2019

Publication:Video

More than 20 individual measures were implemented to ensure the continuity and restoration of the Ruhr in Arnsberg. This resulted in a near-natural river landscape in the middle of the city. The restored Ruhr is increasingly shaping the cityscape. Flood protection has also improved significantly.

Steigerung der Erlebbarkeit der Ruhr im urbanen Raum

Increasing Nature Experience of the Ruhr in the Town of Arnsberg

Year 2019

Publication:Video

The river Wern in Franconia was modified in the 1930s in order to enable agriculture right up to the edge of the river. As a result, biotope and species diversity declined significantly. Since 1995, the Wern has been gradually regaining a near-natural state through systematic, sectional restoration measures.

Systematische Gewässerentwicklung an der Wern

Systematic river development on the Wern

Year 2019

Publication:Video

Long-term land management enabled extensive restoration of the river Nebel in Mecklenburg. In the lowland areas, construction measures were necessary because there is not enough flow velocity for a self-dynamic development. Restoration also increased ecosystem services such as carbon storage and landscape cooling.

Flächenmanagement und Gewässeraufwertung an der Nebel

Land Management and River Restoration at the River Nebel

Year 2019

Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Partner: Ecologic Institute, Germany

Planungsbüro Zumbroich, Germany

Medieningenieurbüro Manntau, Germany

Institute of Aquatic Ecology and Fish Biology (IGF Jena), Germany
Team: Melanie Kemper

Lena Aebli

Ilka Merbold

Ruth Haake

Dr. Georg Lamberty

Dr. Falko Wagner

Marco Linke
Duration: May 2017 - Jan 2020
Project ID: 3514
Keywords: Biodiversity

Communication

Digitalization

Water

restoration, watercourse, hydromorphology, water framework direction,WFD, 2027

Germany

online, information platform, internet, website, infographic, video

Further Links

NewsMuch Heat and Little Water

PublicationReportInventory of River Restoration Measures: Effects, Costs, and Benefits

The deliverable 'Inventory of River Restoration Measures: Effects, Costs, and Benefits' was published in January 2014 as part of the FP7 REFORM project. Scientists at Ecologic Institute led the work in collaboration with several European partners, including economists... Read more

Ayres, Andrew; Holger Gerdes; Brandon Goeller et al. 2014: Inventory of river restoration measures: effects, costs, and benefits. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

PublicationBook SectionFlood Risk Management and Floodplain Restoration in Europe

Against the background of an increased number of flood events and the dependency of their impacts on how the surrounding land is used, it has become evident that technical solutions have only a limited effect. New approaches to flood management, including the... Read more

Dworak, Thomas 2008: "Flood risk management and floodplain restoration in Europe: recent policy developments at EU level", in: Timothy Moss and Jochen Mondstadt (ed.): Restoring Floodplains in Europe. London: IWA Publishing, 47-60.

ProjectFP 7Restoring River for Effective Catchment Management (REFORM)

Europe is characterized by a dense network of rivers that provide essential ecosystem services. Over time, use of rivers by humans has led to severe degradation of water quality and ecosystem functions. REFORM will improve existing tools and develop new ones to increase... Read more

Restoring River for Effective Catchment Management (REFORM)

Duration: Nov 2011 - Nov 2015
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

PublicationBookJahrbuch Ökologie 2015

The Yearbook Ecology 2015 was published at the end of August 2014. This issue's focus is on re-naturation: society in harmony with nature, which is examined from economic, social, technical and ecological points of view. Ecologic Institute is one of the institutes... Read more

Leitschuh, Heike et al. (eds.) 2014: Jahrbuch Ökologie 2015 – Re-Naturierung. Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur]. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag.

PublicationReportRivers and Lakes in European Cities

EEA Technical report

In recent decades, and after a gradual improvement in water quality due to wastewater treatment and reduced industrial activities, urban rivers and lakes have become increasingly important in the planning of urban ecology, green infrastructure, green areas and climate... Read more

EEA, 2016: Rivers and Lakes in European Cities. Past and Future Challenges. Technical report No 26/2016, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen.

EventWorkshopRiver Restoration to Support Effective Catchment Management - Stakeholder Workshop

The technical and interactive Stakeholder Workshop on River Restoration to Support Effective Catchment Management will be held on 26 and 27 February 2013 at the Hotel Silken Berlaymont in Brussels. The workshop is planned as an interactive event with breakout sessions... Read more

Workshop:River Restoration to Support Effective Catchment Management - Stakeholder Workshop

Date: 26 - 27 February 2013
Location: Brussels, Belgium

PublicationBook SectionÖkologischer Hochwasserschutz – gefragt wie nie

After the flooding of 2002, many measures for flood protection have been planned and implemented in Germany. However, the next big flooding event in 2013 showed that technical solutions are not sufficient for the protection of houses, land, and people in endangered... Read more

Tröltzsch, J.; Stelljes, N.; Stein, U. (2014): Ökologischer Hochwasserschutz – gefragt wie nie. In: Leitschuh, H.; Michelsen, G.; Simonis, U. E.; Sommer, J.; von Weizsäcker, E. U. (Hrsg): Jahrbuch Ökologie 2015: Re-Naturierung - Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur. S. Hirzel Verlag, Stuttgart.