PILOT CASE STUDY

WHICH DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RIVER STEYR AND ITS TRIBUTARIES?

JUNE 2018 SHORT INTRODUCTION SURVEY IN THE been disseminated in April 2018. All attendants of anonymous. An official postal invitation to participate The questions also contained additional information PILOT CASE STUDY the RepG- meetings had the possibility of reading in the survey was sent to 10.150 adresses in the 12 (in the form of “read more” fields and mouse- over and commenting on the questionnaire beforehand municipalities of the PCS (8.000 households). fields) and served also as a tool for knowledge transfer and their feedback was integrated in the final regarding e.g. ecosystem services. questionnaire. The invitation included information about the project This infographic aims at collecting the views of as well as step-by-step explanation how to participate 824 people participated in the survey from 9 to 25 residents, associations, private companies and all other Results of this survey will help future decision making in the online survey under the link: April 2018. The present infographic is an articulate actors about the management and the protection of and management plans for the river and were www.diesteyrwertschaetzen.at . wrap up of survey replies to put in evidence PCS the river Steyr and its tributaries. presented to the RepG in a final meeting on June 12, perception of river and related issues by stakeholders The survey is framed on a large scale local individual 2018 as well as presented to the media in a media The online survey form was specifically programmed and local communities. Replies have been analyzed pre-assessment and the discussions of stakeholders event on June 12, 2018 and in a press release on June for the project in a Word-Press based CMS and one by one and, when possible, depicted in a visual in four workshops (meetings of the Representative 14, 2018. consisted of 15 questions regarding ecosystem services way to ease comprehension of river context. Group/RepG) in the PCS Upper Austria from March of the river Steyr and its tributaries, about tourism, to October 2017: the large scale public survey on The survey was open to ALL residents and employees environmental protection and development goals for river perception, issues, governance, proposals has in the 12 municipalities of the PCS region and the region. WHICH OF THE PRECIOUS NATURE: HABITAT FOR ANIMALS AND PLANTS / TOURISM & FOLLOWING LEISURE INDUSTRY / BUFFER FOR ANNOYING VISUAL IMPRESSIONS AND SERVICES, THAT NOISE / WATER SELF-CLEANING / CONTENT FOR CULTURE & EDUCATION / THE STEYR AND ITS HYDROPOWER / RECREATION, SPORT AND HEALTH / REGIONAL IDENTITY TRIBUTARY RIVERS & CONCIOUSNESS OF HOME / SEDIMENT TRANSPORT & GRAVEL BANKS / PROVIDE, IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU? FLOOD PROTECTION / LOCAL CLIMATE REGULATION / USAGE OF WATER The people in the river catchment value the Steyr and AND GRAVEL / FISHING its tributaries most of all for its precious nature, as a habitat for animals and plants and appreciate it as a place for recreation, sport and health.

VERY FREQUENT FREQUENT NOT FREQUENT % % % % % TO WHAT EXTENT DO 30 32 30 6 2 YOU PERSONALLY USE THE STEYR AND ITS TRIBUTARY RIVERS AS A LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL AREA? More than 90% of the survey respondents use the river for recreation, sports and leisure on a regular basis, almost a third of them on weekly or even daily basis.

VERY OFTEN OFTEN OCCASIONALLY RARELY ALMOST NEVER (DAILY, WEEKLY) (ON AVARAGE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH) (SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR) (MAXIMUM ONCE A YEAR) WALKING, HIKING, RUNNING / LINGER ON THE WHICH GRAVEL BANKS / SWIMMING / OBSERVE FLORA AND RECREATIONAL USES FAUNA / BIKING / BOATING / TO HAVE A BARBECUE / ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU PERSONALLY? RAFTING, CANYONING, KAYAKING / VISITING Walking, hiking or running along the river is by far the most popular recreational activity in the river EXCURSION RESTAURANTS / FISHING / DIVING / catchment. More than half of the survey respondents also like to linger on the shore and gravel banks. OTHERS

MORE THAN 80 % MORE THAN 60 % MORE THAN 45 % MORE THAN 20 % MORE THAN 10 % LESS THAN 10 % 61%

ARE THE STEYR AND ITS TRIBUTARIES 32% CURRENTLY

ATTRACTIVE FOR 5% RECREATION AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES? The survey gives a clear picture of the opinion of the 0,4% population of the Steyr river catchment: The river and its tributaries are considered a jewel and are thought to be attractive for recreational activities by 9 out of 10 respondents. 2%

YES RATHER YES RATHER NO NO DO NOT KNOW NO SUGGESTIONS / KEEP CURRENT STATE

ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE SHORE REGION: BARBECUE AND PLAYGROUNDS

EXPANSION BIKE PATH, RIDING AND HIKING TRAILS

WHAT HAS TO BE NATURALNESS; SPACE FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS

DONE TO MAKE MAINTENANCE (PATHS, BENCHES, SIGNAGE, REDUCTION OF WASTE)

THE STEYR EVEN OTHER

MORE ATTRACTIVE NO (MASS) TOURISM BUT GENTLE TOURISM

FOR RECREATION, EXPANSION OF OFFERINGS ALONG THE STEYR

LEISURE AND MORE ADVERTISEMENT

TOURISM? MORE LOCAL GASTRONOMY When asked to make suggestions to increase the LESS REGULATIONS attractiveness of the river and its surroundings for recreational activities, the largest group of responses EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, NATURE TRAILS, OBSERVATION STATIONS (25 %) can be grouped as seeing no need for any improvements. The remaining suggestions can be MORE PARKING SPACES grouped, e.g. into increasing the attractiveness of CAMPSITES, ACCOMODATION the shore area (e.g. by building barbecue stations or playground) or expand trails along the river.

MORE THAN 25% MORE THAN 10% MORE THAN 5% LESS THAN 5% CONTINOUS BIKE PATH FROM THE SPRING TO THE RIVER OUTFALL / CONTINOUS PATH ALONG THE SHORE / BETTER ACCESSIBILITY TO ACTIONS TO THE WATER - RIVERSIDE / WATER PLAYGROUNDS ALONG THE INCREASE ATTRACTIVENESS RIVER STEYR / ADVENTURE AREA AT STEYR BREAKTHROUGH / FOR TOURISM ESTABLISHMENT OF „SHOW SHOPS“ / NONE OF THESE AND LEISURE SUGGESTIONS / BOOKABLE ALL-INCLUSIVE OFFERS / Human activities that do not conflict with environmental and water protection (such as hiking or IMPROVEMENT OF FISHING OPPORTUNITIES biking) are preferred by the survey participants.

VERY FREQUENT FREQUENT NOT FREQUENT BETTER GUIDANCE SYSTEMS, INFORMATION SIGNS, VISITOR MANAGEMENT / EXPANSION OF HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES AND OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS IN THE RIVER AREA / CONDUCTING RATING OF LEISURE- EVENTS IN AND AROUND THE WATER / BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER SPORTS / NONE OF THESE SUGGESTIONS SOUNDS More than 40 % of respondents want an increase and INTERESTING TO ME / MORE GUIDED TOURS AND EXCURSIONS improvement of visitor guidance and better signage along the river. ALONG THE RIVER / EXPANSION OF TRANSPORT SERVICES ALONG THE STEYR

MORE THAN 40% MORE THAN 30% MORE THAN 20% MORE THAN 19% MORE THAN 10% NATURAL WATER ROUTES ARE A RARE COMMODITY. THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED HOW SHOULD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. BE DEALT WITH NATURAL AND NEAR IN PRINCIPLE I SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL WATER ROUTES, BUT (GENTLE) HUMAN NATURAL WATER USAGE SHOULD BE POSSIBLE. ROUTES IN THE FUTURE? IN MY OPINION THE USE OF BODIES OF WATER BY PEOPLE IS PARAMOUNT. IF THIS CAUSES CHANGES The respondents clearly favor a conservation of natural TO THE RIVER OR THE WATER ROUTE, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. and near natural water bodies. However, a majority argues that gentle human use should still be possible.

52% 43% 5% THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE HOW SHOULD THE TO BE MAINTEINED IN THEIR PRESENT FORM. ENVIRONMENT AND WATER THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER CONSERVATION CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE TO BE FURTHER INTENSIFIED. EFFORTS ALONG THE STEYR AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER CONSERVATION ITS TRIBUTARIES EFFORTS SHOULD BE REDUCED WHERE POSSIBLE. PROCEED?

A clear rebuff is given to an increase of activities that I HAVE NO OPINION REGARDING might endanger the environment in and around the THIS TOPIC. river. According to participants, current conservation regulations are to be preserved. A third even votes for an increase in conservation efforts.

MORE THAN 50% MORE THAN 35% MORE THAN 8% MORE THAN 6% THE RESULTS WERE DIFFERENTIATED BY INTEREST GROUPS: To verify that the answers given were not influenced by an “over-representation” of certain interest groups in the survey, the results were differentiated by interest groups. In the respondents group favoring the reduction of current regulations, the share of local political representatives and farmers is a bit higher than in the overall survey, but not significantly. INTENSIFICATION MAINTENANCE REDUCTION NO OPINION

TOTAL WORK IN THE AREA AGRICULTURAL HOLDING LOCAL POLITICS THE RESULTS WERE DIFFERENTIATED BY INTEREST GROUPS: Furthermore the answers were seperated between people who have an interest in nature and people who have not.

INTENSIFICATION MAINTENANCE REDUCTION NO OPINION

TOTAL INTEREST IN NATURE NO INTEREST IN NATURE I AM IN FAVOR OF REGULATING OTTER POPULATION THAT’S WHY I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE CONTROLLED REMOVALS AS WELL. WHAT POSITION DO YOU TAKE I CONSIDER THE INCREASE OF THE OTTER POPULATION IN THE REGION TO BE POSITIVE AND BELIEVE THAT STRICT PROTECTION OF THIS SPECIES REGARDING THE MUST BE MAINTEINED. OTTER POPULATION? Half of the respondents plead for a containment of THIS QUESTION SHOULD BEST the otter population. Only 17% are in favor of a strict BE ANSWERED BY EXPERTS protection of the species.

50% 17% 33% DIFFERENTIATED BY INTEREST GROUPS Over 90 % of those owning fishing rights in the region and over 75 % of farmers wants a containment of the otter population. Only 17,2 % advocate a strict protection of the species.

REGULATION AND INCREASE FAVOURABLE, QUESTION SHOULD BE CONTROLLED REMOVALS UPHOLD PROTECTION ANSWERED BY EXPERTS

TOTAL WORK IN THE AREA AGRICULTURAL HOLDING LOCAL POLITICS INTEREST IN NATURE NO INTEREST IN NATURE OWNER OF FISHING RIGHTS EXPANSION OF LOCAL SUPPLY WHAT HAS TO CREATING JOBS IN THE REGION HAPPEN TO MAKE EXPANSION OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE RIVERS THE RIVER REGION ACCESSIBILITY AND VISIBILITY OF UNIQUE NATURAL ASSETS MORE ATTRACTIVE EXPANDING DIGITALIZATION (E.G. BROADBAND INTERNET) AS A LIVING AND EXPANSION OF CULINARY OPTIONS AVAILABLE WORKING SPACE? A BETTER TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED MORE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERS An increase of local supply and employment opportunities are the most important development OTHERS goals for the respondents. NOTHING HAS TO CHANGE, EVERYTHING IS GOOD AS IT IS

MORE THAN 30% MORE THAN 20% MORE THAN 10% LESS THAN 5% RANKING OF EXPAND OFFERS FOR LOCAL RECREATION AND GENTLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT RESTORATION OF THE CONTINUITY OF RIVERS GOALS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION OF NATURAL WATER ROUTES RIVER HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE MAKE VISIBLE / EXPERIENCE NATURAL WATER ROUTES Regarding development goals for the river, the population favors “low-impact” recreational activities FORCING THE ECONOMIC USE OF THE STEYR as well as the re-establishment of the longitudinal NONE OF THESE STATED OBJECTIVES connectivity of the rivers to allow passage for fish and other aquatic organisms. OTHERS

MORE THAN 40% MORE THAN 20% MORE THAN 10% LESS THAN 5% TO WHAT EXTENT DO THE STEYR, I LIVE IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIVER ITS TRIBUTARY I AM A REGULAR RECREATION SEEKER AT THE STEYR RIVERS AND THEIR I AM INTERESTED IN THE NATURE BY THE RIVER CONSTITUTION I AM A DIRET NEIGHBOR TO THE RIVER AFFECT YOU I WORK IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIVER PERSONALLY? I HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL HOLDING IN THE AREA The majority of 76 % of the respondents live in the I AM ACTIVE IN LOCAL POLITICS vicinity of the river (17,5 % are directly neighboring the I ACTIVELY SUPPORT NATURE CONSERVATION river). 70 % of the respondents are regular recreation seekers at the river. 45 % are interested in the environment.

MORE THAN 70% MORE THAN 45% MORE THAN 15% MORE THAN 5% WOULD YOU LIKE 54% 41% 8% 6% 2% TO CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE REFLECTIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOALS FOR THE STEYR AND ITS TRIBUTARY RIVERS? More than a third of the respondents would like to receive more information on river management planning and 6,4 % (53 persons) would like to be actively involved in future planning activities.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE I WOULD LIKE TO PARTECIPATE I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND MEETING NO, I DON’T WANT TO OTHER MORE INFORMATION E.G. VIA E-MAIL AND WORKING GROUPS AGE OF PARTICIPANTS 45% of respondents were older than 50 years. Only 14% of respondents were younger than 29 years.

14% 41% 45%

< 29 YEARS 29 - 50 YEARS > 50 YEARS ABOUT YOU SURVEY SAMPLE INFORMATION GENDER % % % Significantly more men (62 %) than women 62 38 participated in the survey.

MALE FEMALE GRÜNBURG

MOLLN

STEINBACH AN DER STEYR

SPITAL AM PYHRN

WINDISCHGARSTEN

HINTERSTODER

KLAUS AN DER PYHRNBAHN

MUNICIPALITY OF VORDERSTODER

YOUR RESIDENCE? ROSSLEITHEN

ROSENAU AM HENGSTPASS

EDLBACH

SANKT PANKRAZ

MOTE THAN 150 PEOPLE MORE THAN 110 PEOPLE MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE LESS THAN 40 PEOPLE The information contained in this report is subject to change DOCUMENT without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by any members of the Share Consortium. The Share Consortium CONTROL assumes no responsibility for the use or inability to use any procedure, protocol, software or algorithms, which might be PROJECT described in this report. The information is provided without any SPARE- Strategic Planning for Alpine Rivers Ecosystems

warranty of any kind and the Share Consortium expressly disclaims ACTION all implied warranties, including but not limited to the implied WPT3 – action 4.1

warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular use. DELIVERABLE WPT3 – deliverables 4.1.3

The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the DISSEMINATION authors; it does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Public

INFO & CONTACTS Community. The European Regional Development Fund is not ORIGIN responsible for any use that may be made of the information Office of the Upper Austrian Government, Stefan SCHNEIDERBAUER Water Management Planning Unit Land Oberösterreich contained herein. The information contained is given for information [email protected] purposes only and does not legally bind any of the parties involved. AUTHORS Christine Ehrenhuber [email protected] Susanne MUHAR Stefan Schneiderbauer [email protected] University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) [email protected]

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