The new River Enns Content 05 | Introduction 07 | Description of the area 08 | The history 10 | The project 12 | Natura2000 species and habitats 16 | The measures 24 | Popular opinion 25 | Many helped 26 | Contact Introduction Together for the River Enns The LIFE+ project “River Landscape Enns” aims to recreate natural alluvial forest and river landscape features and to de- velop new habitat types in the Enns valley. It has reconnected two old meanders and widened the River Enns, whilst also se- curing and regenerating the natural alluvial forests. This is to the benefit not only of Mother Nature but also of people living in the Enns valley. “River Landscape Enns” constitutes an impressive example of just how possible it is to reconcile differing objectives. The pro- ject improves local people’s safety and creates more space for nature and recreation. The river is undergoing ecological improvement in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive whilst, at the same time, flood protection for local people is strengthened. Cooperation between the local project partners, the organisations respon- sible for the project and the participating municipalities enables the creation of attractive natural and recreational areas. Additi- onally, the implemented measures provide an important contri- bution to the conservation of habitats and species protected under European law. We offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of the project and wish you all necessary strength for the tasks ahead. ANDRÄ RUPPRECHTER JOHANN SEITINGER JÖRG LEICHTFRIED Federal Minister of Agriculture, Regional Minister for Regional Minister for Forestry, Environment and Housing, Agriculture, Water Traffic, Environment, Sport, Water Management and Waste Management Renewable Energy Pic Andrä Rupprechter © BMLFUW – Alexander Haiden, Pic Johann Seitinger © Lebensressort Steiermark, Pic Jörg Leichtfried © Johannes Zinner Description of the area With a total area of 4187 hectares, the NATURA 2000 European Protection Areas of “Enns valley between Liezen and Niederstuttern”, “Gersdorfer Altarm” [old meander at Gersdorf] and “Pürgschachen-Moos and zones close to the River Enns between Selzthal and the entrance to the Gesäuse mountains” in the district of Liezen together constitute the area encompassed by the LIFE+ project “River Landscape Enns”. The residual meanders of the opportunities for domestic River Enns and litter meadows nature conservation. Measu- that have developed in the old res for maintaining or recrea- Natura 2000 – river beds constitute some of ting natural habitats for ani- European protection the most valuable habitats for mals and plants can be endangered and rare animal subsidised by EU “LIFE Nature areas in the project area and plant species along the Programme“. In so-called Enns valley. These include al- “LIFE Nature projects“, subsi- The Natura 2000 European luvial forests, riparian ponds, dies can be claimed from this protection area network has set endangered species like the programme, which supports itself the goal of conserving otter, Common Kingfisher significant nature conservation Europe’s wealth of wild animals and Common Sandpiper, projects throughout Europe. and plants and their habitats. which depend on typical river The legal foundations are the structures, as well as fish The general objective is the Habitats- and Birds Directives. species such as the bullhead, restoration, improvement and Ukrainian brook lamprey and longterm preservation of es- , EPA No. 41 “Enns valley grayling. sentially natural alluvial forest between Liezen and and river basin landscape, Niederstuttern“ The designation of large taking into account protective ID code: AT2229002 sections of the Enns valley as water management require- Area: 2560 hectares from NATURA 2000 European Pro- ments for passive flood Selzthal to beyond Pruggern tection Areas signifies new protection. , EPA No. 8 “Gersdorfer Altarm” ID code: AT2238000 Area: 8 hectares , EPA No. 6 “Pürgschachen- LIFE Moos and zones close to the River Enns between Selzthal LIFE is a European Union subsidy programme to and the entrance to the support nature conservation projects in Natura Gesäuse mountains” 2000 areas. LIFE subsidises projects aimed at ID code: AT2205000 maintaining endangered species and improving Area: 1619 hectares from natural habitat within EU member states, Selzthal to the entrance thereby making an enduring contribution to the Gesäuse to the conservation of wild animal mountains and plant species in Europe. Description of the area | 07 The history of the River Enns The shape of the Enns valley as we see it today arose as a result of the erosive power of the last Enns glacier. A flat river basin emerged, and the Enns became a meandering river with numerous loops. Originally the River Enns flo- ruction measures and the se- wed from one side of the val- dimentary material was held ley to the other. In the course back to protect the villages Enns regulation from of regulation measures in the from catastrophic flooding. Pruggern to the entrance 19th and 20th centuries, the great regulation of the River The resulting numerous wa- to the Gesäuse mountains Enns was completed and ter-filled old meanders were most of the meanders were abandoned to silting up. The , Period: 1860 till 1879 and cut off. shortening of the course of the subsequently 1909 till 1929 River Enns and retention of se- , Cuttings: 40 The straightening of the River diments from tributaries led to , Shortening of river course: Enns and draining of the valley severe deepening of the river 19km = 18 % - from a course floor mainly served the purpo- bed and sinking of the water length of 106 km to 87 km se of gaining land to enable level by up to three metres. , Reduction of area reserved agricultural utilisation of these This caused a decoupling of for the river: 55 % – from areas. Heavily laden with se- the river from the hinterland previous ca. 600 hectares to diments, the northerly tributa- and through the resulting soil subsequent ca. 270 hectares ries to the River Enns were dehydration the loss of many (Klapf, 1989) regulated by huge reconst- valuable habitats. , Draining of wetlands: 1500 hectares , Construction of hydro-electric plant: Salza 1949, Hieflau 1953, Gstatterboden 1953, Sölk 1978, Mandling 1985 Loss of alluvial Cutting off and Straightening of the Riverbank Loss of riparian Decoupling from forests and decoupling silting up of old River Enns, loss of reinforcement, loss ponds, forcing back tributaries, loss of access from the River Enns meanders water-retaining areas of dynamic processes humid habitats for aquatic species 08 | History The history of the River Enns Historic development in pictures Since ancient times, mankind has sought to shape its environment to its advantage. In this context the River Enns also has a long history of human influence. Comparison of the river course at Liezen – Josephinian mapping in 1787 and current situation historical river course current river course Pruggern, River section at cutting off of a the bridge in Aich, river loop bank stabilization measures Bioengineering Breakthrough measures for bank at Tunzendorf, stabilization dredgers History | 09 The project The LIFE+ “River Landscape Enns” project area extends over two groups of implementation measures along the River Enns from Öblarn to Admont. The following 8 areas in which new alluvial fo- measures were rests can develop and to cre- ate riparian ponds. Along ex- Project data implemented in tended sections the bank the project: reinforcements were removed , Project area: in order to once again offer Styria, district of Liezen , Reconnection of two old the River Enns the chance to , Project budget: 2,863,102 € meanders to the River develop dynamically. , EU share: 50 % Enns , Project duration: The project executive consis- January 2011 – December 2015 , Four widenings of ted of Department 14 for Wa- the river bed ter Management, Resources The national share of funding is and Sustainability (Protective carried with 70 % by the Austrian , Revitalisation of the Water Management) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, mouth sections of two State Government of Styria. Forestry, Environment and Water Ardningbach tributary streams to make Management along with 30 % from Eß them accessible to The project partners were De- interested parties (environmental lingb a aquatic species once partment 13 for Environment ombudswoman, Verbund Hydro ch again and Spatial Planning (Nature Power). Conservation), Liezen public In addition, these measures works department and the made it possible to secure Torrent and Avalanche Cont- 1 local stands of existing, rol management for the area 3 valuable alluvial forests, create of northern Styria. 4 2 Liezen 5 Admont Enns p Use this QR-code to The film about find your way to the the project. implemented measures. Maßnahmengruppe Öblarn Maßnahmengruppe Admont 6 Salza Mündung (Gde. St. Martin am Grimming) 1 Grabner Au (Gde. Weng im Gesäuse) 7 Walchenbach (Gde. Öblarn) Trautenfels 2 Admont Ost (Gde. Admont) 8 Gersdorfer Altarm (Gde. Öblarn) 3 Eßlingbach (Gde. Hall) 4 Dampfsäge (Gde. Admont) 5 Ardningbach (Gde. Ardning) Maßnahmengruppe Öblarn Maßnahmengruppe Admont 6 Salza Mündung (Gde. St. Martin am Grimming) 1 Grabner Au (Gde. Weng im Gesäuse) 7 (Gde. Öblarn) 2 (Gde. Admont) Salz Walchenbach Admont Ost 8 Gersdorfer Altarm (Gde. Öblarn) 3 Eßlingbach (Gde. Hall) a 4 Dampfsäge (Gde. Admont) 5 Ardningbach (Gde. Ardning) 6 7 Öblarn 8 10 | The project The project Implementation