The Integrated Programme Flood control and restoration of former along the

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE PROTECTION AND THE ENERGY SECTOR CONTENTS Dear Citizens,

Preface ...... 1 Water is a basis of life, a habitat and a natural resource, all in one. However, it also poses inherent risks. Therefore, it is a declared objective of our state government to enhance flood prevention in The risk ...... 2-3 harmony with the natural environment throughout the entire state of -Württemberg. The River Rhine – a wild river For this purpose, we plan to create a retention capacity of about 273 million m³ between falling prey to human intervention 4-5 the cities of and Worms along the Upper Rhine. The state of Baden-Württemberg

The Integrated has pledged to contribute 13 flood retention areas with an overall capacity of 167.3 million Rhine Programme (IRP) ...... 6-7 m³ towards accomplishing this ambitious, internationally agreed goal. For this reason, the Integrated Rhine Programme (IRP) was established back in 1996. Apart from providing The possibilities and environmentally sustainable flood control, the latter also seeks to protect and restore impact of flood retention floodplains both inside and outside the designated retention areas. on the Upper Rhine ...... 8 Currently, Baden-Württemberg provides the following retention areas: the cultural weir near The Upper Rhine retention areas /, the polders in Altenheim, Söllingen/Greffern, Rheinschanzinsel as well as parts down to ...... 9 of Weil-. This already accounts for approximately 45% of the required retention capacity. Combined with the flood retention measures taken in and Rhineland-, these ca- Flood protection in harmony with nature ...... 10-11 pacities already ensure the protection of the metropolitan areas of and Mannheim/Lud- wigshafen, safeguarding them against flood events that occur statistically every 120 to 150 years. Using the Polders Altenheim Harnessing all available retention capacities along the Upper Rhine during the last major flooding in the event of flooding ...... 12-13 in May/June 2013 allowed us to reduce the peak height of the flood in Karlsruhe/Maxau by 24cm, New refuge for a large variety which prevented the occurrence of larger-scale damage and losses in the Upper Rhine region. Due of fauna and flora ...... 14-15 to the weather conditions prevailing at that particular point in time, Baden-Württemberg narrowly escaped severe and disastrous flooding similar to the floodwaters that had swelled the rivers Elbe Documenting changes in the and Danube. Once again, this has shown that the state’s flood control strategy is on the right track. landscape ...... 16 Due to the allocation and logical increase in financial resources granted by both the state and the Outlook ...... 17 federal government, flood prevention and defence measures may quickly progress with further Imprint flood retention areas being planned and built in the very near future. Moreover, possible dyke Editor: relocations in appropriate locations along the River Rhine will be incorporated in the planning. Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Alternative proposals submitted by the respective regions will be scrutinised within the framework Postfach 10 34 39 in 70029 , of the relevant approval procedures. available from: Regierungspräsidium Freiburg (Regional Administrative Authority Freiburg) However, the required retention areas may only be planned, built and operated when the residents 79114 Freiburg i. Br., Bissierstrasse 7, Germany Editorial staff: Silvia Kuhn, Wolfgang Migenda, living along the River Rhine support the scheme in a show of solidarity. This brochure showcases Dr. Ulrike Pfarr the parameters and conditions underlying the Integrated Rhine Programme by outlining the IRP’s Graphic design: Maerzke Grafik Design, Leonberg basic idea and objectives. Further more detailed information on plans pertaining to your specific Translated by Ilona Kronenberg, Solingen region is available on the websites of the Regional Administrative Authorities of Freiburg and Karls- Picture credits: Bertram H., Munich, page 3; aerial photo Brugger, Stuttgart, pages 6/7; ruhe. Dannenmayer, Karlsruhe Titel, page 11, 14, 15; Dr. Homagk, Karlsruhe, page 12; I hope that, with your support, we will jointly be able to swiftly implement the Integrated Rhine Basel Museum of Art, page 4; Maerzke, Leonberg title, pages 1, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14/15, Programme. For this purpose, we must reconcile a multitude of very different interests and will 16/17; Richter, Freiburg pages 2, 8, 11; only succeed in doing so if we manage to establish a broad consensus on a social and political level. Staeber, Freiburg pages 10, 11, 14, 15; Steinmetz, LUBW Karlsruhe page 11; Against this backdrop, I am asking for your constructive support and cooperation on this sometimes all other photos Regional Administrative Autho- rity Freiburg rocky path.

Fifth Revised Edition Your All rights reserved – no part of this brochure may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior permission of the editor. Franz Untersteller MdL (Member of the Landtag) Stuttgart, October 2016 Minister of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector of the Land of Baden-Württemberg 2 Flood hazard Flood hazard 3

The risk THE SOLUTION THE PLAN IS FULLY WORKING OUT Housing estates and industrial areas are As illustrated by the example of the According to current estimates, the still being built on potential floodplains. In its present state, the River Rhine River Rhine, it was not so long ago that costs incurred in connection with the Inte- As a consequence, the flood hazard will only has a limited conveyance people were trying to protect the wetlands grated Rhine Programme total about not recede, but increase. Flood protection taken away from the rivers by means of EUR 1.47bn (as of 8/2015); in contrast, in can never be absolute. People living in the capacity for floodwater downstream dams that were built higher and higher. Baden-Württemberg alone, the anticipated immediate proximity of the river must of Iffezheim along the impounded Today we know that this tremendously damage/losses exceed an amount of always be prepared for the worst. However, stretch of the river. Taking stock of exacerbates the flood hazards for down- EUR 7bn (as of 2013) plus the potential even a reduction in unavoidable damage/ losses from floods: Thus, the conurbations of Karlsruhe, stream areas. For this reason, raising the loss of human life. Subsequent to the com- losses is equivalent to efficient flood control. The economic damage caused by a major Mannheim/Ludwigshafen and dams along the vulnerable section of the pletion of all flood retention facilities The respective precautions as well as reli- flood event in Baden- Württemberg totals Worms must brace themselves for Upper Rhine beyond their current height along the Upper Rhine, the measures em- able flood forecasting and warning systems approx. EUR 7bn must be ruled out in terms of a potential braced by the Integrated Rhine Programme will effectively help lower the damage/ (as of 2013). considerable damage caused by The measures taken solution to the problem. Thus, the only are set to prevent almost all of the above- losses incurred, even during major flood within the framework flooding when the river overtops of the Integrated feasible solution to attenuate critical flood mentioned losses, even in the event of a events. its embankments and inundates Rhine Programme peaks embraces the creation of flood- 200-year flood. Hence, the above invest- will help curb these the areas behind the . The losses. plains. Along the Upper Rhine, there is ment is really worthwhile! total damage/losses incurred in still a possibility of doing so in quite a Apart from that, things are also work- Baden-Württemberg alone is esti- number of areas. In former times, prior to ing out for nature. We are witnessing a mated to amount to more than the construction of the dams, these areas rise in the number of remaining natural EUR 7bn (as of 2013). Moreover, it were always subject to inundation; today, floodplains that constitute the original habi- is expected that such an event will they are mainly used for forestry purposes, tats of a rich diversity of fauna and flora with a small proportion being set aside as that used to be typical of the Upper Rhine result in human casualties. farmland. Many of these areas still bear plain in former times. In addition, this will witness to the past as they embrace remain- also benefit humankind. In many locations, ders of the typical landscape people’s living environment will become that used to exist along the Upper Rhine. more natural and attractive. Reclaiming these areas for flood control PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN purposes and developing semi-natural CURE Photo: Sascha Kopp Photo: Sascha floodplains is the objective pursued by the The flood retention measures carried Integrated Rhine Programme (IRP), out along the Upper Rhine merely consti- Baden-Württemberg’s plan to ensure flood tute repair work and will by no means suf- control and restore the former floodplains fice as stand-alone measures. Human inter- along the Upper Rhine. ference along the river must be reversed.

Floods on the Upper THE CAUSES Rhine pose a threat Until the 1970s, prior to the construc- to 95 towns and Housing estates, industrial municipalities tion of the dams along the Upper Rhine zones and farmland ➤ with a total are threatened by flooding. population between Kembs and Iffezheim, the situa- Altrip (left), Mannheim (right) of 700,000 tion proved to be less dramatic. At that ➤ with ca. 350,000 tention of water while reducing the river’s parable flood volumes generate larger river jobs time, the number of natural floodplains ➤ covering a surface flood conveyance capacity along the north- discharges that can no longer run off be- area of along the southern section of the Upper 2 ern stretch of the Upper Rhine to an ac- tween the dams of the Rhine along ca. 1,000 km Rhine were still sufficient, allowing the re- (as of 1995) ceptable level. With the construction of the northern stretch of the Upper Rhine the dams, the floodplains were cut off downstream of Iffezheim. from the natural discharge regime of the Rhine. Today, flood events involving com- 4 History History 5

The River Rhine – THE SYSTEMATIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE UPPER RHINE a wild river falling The Treaty of Versailles and its implications for the River Rhine prey to human The Treaty of Versailles concluded intervention back in 1919 constituted the point of de- parture for further substantial changes th Prior to the 19 century, the River along the Upper Rhine. In Article 358 Rhine used to be a wild river that France was conferred the right to divert was by and large untouched by water from the Upper Rhine and harness Topographic map dated 1828. the River Rhine used to be a wild surrounding a multitude of isles Detail of the so-called “Rhein- river in the so-called furcation and gravel banks while con- man. Subsequent human interven- water power for generating electricity. gränzkarte” (Rhine border map). zone, flowing along by forming tinuously changing its course. Prior to its correction by Tulla, various river loops and arms View of the historical southern Upper Rhine furcation zone from the Isteiner Klotz Between 1928 and 1977, a total of 10 dams tion strongly altered the stream (painting by Peter Birmann) were constructed within the framework of and its natural environment. This This particular section of the flood- marshy Upper Rhine plain into an area

three development phases. AZ.:2851.9-1/19) © State Agency for Spatial Information and Rural Development Baden-Württemberg (www.lgl-bw.de, resulted in a loss of floodplains plains covered an area that was 10 to 12km suitable for farming and forestry purposes. First of all, the Grand of while increasing the exposure to wide. Back then, floods were able to inun- Thus, people living in the immediate prox- (Grand Canal d’Alsace) between Märkt and date the terrain without coming across imity of the Rhine enjoyed a higher level flood hazard. Breisach with the Kembs, Ottmarsheim, any major obstacles. However, people of protection against floods. From 1906 Fessenheim and Vogelgrün dams was con- THE WILD RIVER RHINE settling in the plains along the River Rhine onwards, Max Honsell continued Tulla’s structed. Between 1959 and 1970, the – A NATURAL RIVER UNTIL THE perceived this scenario as a threat. Every work in his capacity as Director of the expansion of the Upper Rhine progressed 19 TH CENTURY now and then, permanently recurring Grand Ducal Building Authority located and brought about 4 loops located be- Topographic map dated 1872. river bed that was 200m wide higher discharge levels, the river About 200 years ago, the River Rhine floods engulfed whole estates while inun- in Karlsruhe. By putting up riprap, so-called Subsequent to the correction by and able to discharge about twice overtopped its banks, inundating tween Breisach and Strasbourg, with dams Tulla, the numerous river arms the volume of water during mean the alluvial forests right up to the still used to be a wild river. In the section dating the vital fields for weeks in a row. groynes, he reduced the cross-section of the were combined to form a closed flow conditions. In the event of inland flood defences (dams). close to , , located between Basel and The alluvial floodplains with their great channel of the River Rhine, with the water and Strasbourg. By 1977, the river had lived In 1817 J.G. Tulla (furcation zone), the main channel of the diversity of fauna and flora were still in a concentrating in the main channel of the started regulating to see the construction of the probably the river that had re- Rhine bifurcated into many side arms. mostly natural condition. river. The establishment of a permanent last dams at and Iffezheim, mained in its natural Each flooding changed the course of these th navigation channel (depth: 2m, width: state up to the 19 which are located directly in the river. century. The Upper numerous shallow channels. Sometimes THE CORRECTION OF THE 75m to 100m) provided the possibility of Rhine plain that had been a marshy alluvial their course shifted inland, sometimes more RIVER RHINE travelling up to Basel all year round. Loss of important habitats for zone until that point into the direction of the riverbed of the First corrections by Johann in time was subse- fauna and flora First adverse effects on the quently reclaimed by Rhine. Along this reach, the floodplains Gottfried Tulla The systematic development of the man. floodplains An important habitat along the River Rhine were 2 to 3km wide. The first correction of the River Rhine 2 Upper Rhine resulted in a loss of 130km Topographic map dated 1963. tion“ was performed. For the bankments being moved directly for flora and fauna All in all, the correction of the Upper The next section of the river between was carried out between 1817 and 1880 of previously flooded wetlands which, in The systematic development of Marckolsheim Dam depicted in to the edge of the riverbed. As a typical of floodplains Rhine resulted in a major loss of natural the Upper Rhine entailed the this illustration, a weir for ensur- consequence, the riparian forest was lost due to the the estuary of the River and the according to master plans devised by turn, entailed the loss of important habitats construction of the Grand Canal ing the discharge of water into located between Breisach and The Treaty of Ver- expansion measures wetlands and brought about a reduction in of Alsace up to Breisach from the canal loop near Burkheim Burkheim is no longer subject to city of Worms (meander zone) had a shal- sailles gave France that were carried out. Johann Gottfried Tulla, engineer and lieu- that sheltered rare animals like kingfishers, where the so-called „loop solu- was constructed, with the em- any flooding. the frequency of floods in the areas border- the right to generate low gradient with the River Rhine adopt- tenant colonel in the former duchy of Ba- beavers and black storks. It is true that the energy by using the ing the river. The mere construction of the human management. Instead of a complete The loss of natural floodplains has hydropower of the ing a meandering course through the den. For this purpose, numerous channels systematic development of the Upper River Rhine. dam between Märkt near Basel and Karls- Upper Rhine plain by forming wide loops of the river in the furcation zone were mosaic of alluvial biotopes that form part given rise to distinctly higher flood Between 1928 and Rhine did not entail the complete disap- 1977 a total of ten ruhe entailed a floodplain loss of 660km2. of a river floodplain network within a wider peaks. Moreover, due to the shortening in a by and large enclosed riverbed. combined to form one main bed with a pearance of the semi-natural habitats typi- dams were built The increased erosion of the Rhine in the system of biotopes, we are left with only of the river, the peak heights of the River along the River Rhine. width of 200m to 240m, while the wide cal of floodplains, but the floodplains that This resulted in a south brought about the loss of another meander loops were cut through. As a re- small isolated remnants of the former Rhine coincide with the higher discharge major loss of natural were still subject to inundation also expe- floodplain biotopes. 80km2 of floodplains. Communities typical natural floodplains of the River Rhine. volumes of its tributaries such as sult, the River Rhine received a new river- rienced a shift towards more and more The flood hazard of the floodplains that required regular the River and the River Main. downstream of bed that has essentially remained the same Iffezheim along the inundation were destroyed. As opposed to Increased flood hazards until today. The length of the Rhine sec- systematically devel- the current situation, the floodplains along As a direct consequence of dam oped stretch of tion between Basel and Worms was redu- the river increased the Upper Rhine were still in a semi-natu- construction, the risk of flooding down- considerably. ced from 354km to 273km. From then on- ral state and networking amongst the stream of Iffezheim along the developed wards, floods were only able to inundate biotopes functioned better despite the ad- stretch of the River Rhine has mounted Prior to the first development an area that was about 1 to 2km wide. and expansion measures the verse changes which had already occurred considerably. floodplains had retained their natural state. A navigable river down to by then. Basel – all year round By implementing these measures, Tulla created settlement areas and converted the 6 The IRP The IRP 7

The Integrated further polders downstream of the Franco- German border. Pursuant to this agree- Rhine Programme ment, France is to contribute to the restora- (IRP) tion of flood protection by assuring the emergency operation of its Rhine power The goals pursued by the Integrated plants and by operating the and Rhine Programme include flood Polders. control as well as the preservation and/or restoration of the Upper Rhine THE FRAMEWORK CONCEPT BRINGS CLARITY floodplains. Following the example Important events: During the planning stage it became given by nature, today’s conservation evident that it was impossible to carry out 1919 Treaty of Versailles ensures tomorrow’s flood control. the measures as originally planned due to technical problems that occurred during 1928-77 System- IRP OBJECTIVES: FLOOD CON- atic development of implementation and on account of new in- the Upper Rhine TROL AND THE RESTORATION OF telligence gleaned from environmental FLOODPLAINS 1968 Establish- impact assessments, which had already ment of the “Inter- The Integrated Rhine Programme national Commission been completed by then. proposes the creation of flood retention on the Hydrology of It became obvious that ecological con- the Rhine” areas at 13 sites located on former alluvial cerns had to be increasingly taken into 1982 Franco-Ger- floodplains on the Baden-Württemberg man Agreement consideration and that the number of sites on the systematic proposed in the Franco-German Agreement development of the Rhine INTEGRATED During the planning stage it be- would not suffice. 1987 The first flood came evident that not only water manage- The Baden-Württemberg State Govern- ment requirements as such should be allowed retention areas, i.e. to take priority, but that it was also imperative Rhinau loop near Taubergießen (left) ment responded by commissioning the the Polder Altenheim to take ecological concerns into account. as well as the cul- shore of the River Rhine; all in all, it seeks A PROJECT EMBRACING INTER- IMPORTANT STAGES LEADING sures deemed necessary for the purpose of then Ministry of the Environment to draw tural weir near For this reason, ecological objectives were Kehl/Strasbourg, integrated into the flood control concept that to preserve and restore the wetlands along DISCIPLINARY COOPERATION TO THE IRP flood control at that particular point in up a framework concept for restoring flood become operational had only embraced technical aspects at the the Upper Rhine to the maximum extent Commissioned by the state govern- As early as in 1968, the “International time. protection (Framework Concept, Part I) very beginning. 1988 Decision in possible. ment, the programme was drawn up by the Commission on the Hydrology of the Apart from the emergency operation as well as the alluvial floodplains along the favour of the devel- RHINE opment of a frame- The measures taken in the context of The measures taken in this context state environmental management body in Rhine”, which comprised representatives of the Rhine power stations, the measures Upper Rhine (Framework Concept, Part II). the Integrated Rhine Programme cover the work concept by the Baden-Württemberg shore of the River Rhine mainly focus on increasing flood control interdisciplinary cooperation with other from France, Switzerland, Austria and Ger- to be taken on German territory included Finally, in 1996, the State Government State Government between Basel and Mannheim. Furthermore, of Baden-Württem- along the non-developed stretch of the departments and third party experts. It was many as well as representatives from the a weir at Rhine kilometre 220.5, the cultur- adopted the “Framework Concept of the berg flood control measures are also implemented in Rhineland-Palatinate and France; in con- River Rhine between Iffezheim and Worms set up as a framework programme allowing federal states of Baden-Württemberg, al weirs at Breisach and Kehl, the Polders State of Baden-Württemberg for the Im- 1996 Adoption of junction with the Integrated Rhine Program- while specifically enhancing the protec- the proposed measures to be planned and Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, conducted Altenheim and Söllingen Polders as well as plementation of the Integrated Rhine the Framework Con- me, they ensure extensive flood protection cept for the Imple- along the Upper Rhine. tion of the conurbations of Karlsruhe and implemented step by step. The entire a study on the impact of the systematic Programme“. mentation of the In- Mannheim/Ludwigshafen as quickly as scheme as well as the local implementation development of the Upper Rhine. tegrated Rhine Pro- PROGRAMME The overall IRP scheme com- gramme by the State prises a plethora of individual measures. possible. The ultimate goal entails attaining in the administrative district of Freiburg The findings of the Commission underlined Government of Durch Discharge volume to Baden-Württemberg All of them are based on the “Framework beRetentionsmaßnahmen controlled via the level of flood protection that existed was put under the lead management of the the need for restoring the level of flood discharge Concept of the Federal State of Baden-Würt- Abfluß retentionaufzufangendes measures m3/s Abflußvolumen 2002 Unanimously, temberg for the Implementation of the prior to the construction of the dams and Regierungspräsidium Freiburg (Regional protection that existed prior to the system- 5700 the Landtag reaf- Integrated Rhine Programme”. weirs. Administrative Authority Freiburg). Local atic development of the Upper Rhine. firmed its approval of the 13 sites According to the present framework implementation in the administrative 5000 embraced by the Integrated Rhine concept pertaining to the Integrated Rhine district of Karlsruhe is ensured by the THE FRANCO-GERMAN SituationZustand in1955 1955 Programme SituationZustand in1977 1977 Programme, this would require a retention Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe (Regional AGREEMENT SituationZustand in1977 1977 incl.mit retentionRetention 3 4000 volume of approximately 167.3m m on the Administrative Authority Karlsruhe). Years later, the above requirement was 2010 Cabinet Baden-Württemberg shore of the River incorporated into the Franco-German reaffirmation of the Integrated Rhine Rhine. Agreement concluded in 1982. This agree- 3000 Programme Essential elements required for ensu- ment on the systematic development of MaxauPegel gauging Maxau station

ring environmentally-friendly flood control the River Rhine between Kehl/Strasbourg 12345678910 Tagedays 2000 include the preservation and creation of and Neuburgweier/Lauterburg listed mea- In order to attain the same level of flood protection that existed prior to the development of the semi-natural floodplain biotopes. Upper Rhine, the 1 in 200-year flood peaks at the Maxau gauging station must be reduced by 700 m3/s via retention measures. 8 Flood retention Flood retention 9

The possibilities and impact of The Upper Rhine retention areas A mathematical flood discharge flood retention on the Upper Rhine down to Mannheim model was used for Mannheim the purpose of verify- ing whether the mea- Waldsee sures laid down in the Framework Con- Kollerinsel cept of the Integrated Rhineland- Rhine Programme – existing dam Neckar in conjunction with removed outlet structure Flotzgrün the measures taken Palatinate in France and Rhine- land-Palatinate – Polder Mechtersheim Rheinschanzinsel would actually entail additional Comprehensive studies conducted over a period the required level of floodplain area of several years have revealed that each of the efficiency. planned Elisabethenwört dam proposed retention areas is suitable for the The relevant findings Rhine Rhine purposes of flood retention and the restoration Wörth/Jockgrim speak for themselves foreland foreland planned of semi-natural floodplain conditions. However, and underline the im- inlet structure (Neupotz) existing dam portance of achieving existing not all sites will enjoy an optimum achieve- dam the set targets. dam ment of both objectives. Karlsruhe For this purpose, all POLDERS DAM RELOCATIONS sites embracing an Daxlander Bellenkopf/Rappenwört overall volume of In the event of increased discharge Subsequent to a dam relocation, the discharge volume is channelled through 167.3m m3 that are volumes of the River Rhine, which are spe- River Rhine may once again rely on a larger the old river bed. This brings about a rise proposed in the Framework Concept cifically stipulated within the framework number of natural floodplains enabling the in water level along this particular reach. for the Integrated Moder Rhine Programme of existing rules and regulations, polders river to overtop its banks without meeting This way, the river is allowed to over- will be required. are artificially flooded via inlet structures. any obstacles. The higher the water level top its banks and the water may freely in- France Söllingen/Greffern Floods along the This flooding allows the water of the River of the river, the more water will inundate undate the adjacent floodplains. Due to its Upper Rhine may be retained by way of Rhine to pass unimpeded through the the wetlands and flow back into the Rhine controllability, the emergency operation of polders, reloca- polders with the water finally re-entering with a time lag. As a consequence, the the Rhine power stations may be used in a Strasbourg Freistett tions, weirs and the emergency operation the river bed with a certain delay via the mounting flood levels are already reduced targeted and highly efficient way. Its impact Cultural weir Kehl/Strasbourg of the power sta- tions located on the corresponding outlet structures. at an early stage when discharge volumes is comparable to that achieved by polders Altenheim Rhine. Baden- Since both the timing of artificial flooding are still fairly uncritical. and weirs. Erstein All areas combined and the level of flood retention may be Flooding cannot be controlled and this Württemberg provide protection controlled to a large degree, polders may be implies that the retention volume may not against a 1 in Ichenheim/Meißenheim/Ottenheim 200-year flood – the used in a targeted and highly efficient way. be utilised in a targeted way. This type of statistical mean Emergency operation measured at the The dedicated use of polders for floodwa- flood retention is closest to natural condi- of Rhine Estuary of the River Maxau gauging sta- power stations tion. ter retention purposes is required approxi- tions. (loops) mately every ten years. For obtaining ap- EMERGENCY OPERATION OF / proval of such controlled polder manage- N THE RHINE POWER STATIONS ment on non-farmland under nature con- WEIRS Along the systematically developed servation law, ecological flooding during With the help of weirs located in the Breisach/Burkheim stretch of the Rhine between Basel and the periods between such retention events River Rhine, the water level of the main Strasbourg, the water of the River Rhine is Freiburg is necessary. This results in the creation of channel and that of the floodplains up- divided and channelled into the loops that wetland-like habitats and living conditions stream of the respective weir may be con- Cultural weir Breisach hold the power stations and/or the Grand that reproduce the natural environment as trolled in accordance with a stipulated Integrated Rhine Programme of Canal of Alsace as well as the original river far as possible. the state of Baden-Württemberg set of rules and regulations. First of all, the bed. In the event of a flood, the so-called Weil-Breisach floodwater is retained by the weir itself, retention facilities discharge “emergency operation of the Rhine power m3/s Initial impact Baden-Württemberg of flood retention via: whereupon it is allowed to spill into the Emergency operation stations” reduces the discharge conveyance of Rhine power weirs/polders/ dam relocations proposed from weirs/polders/ adjacent floodplains due to the increased stations emergency oper- of the loops to a minimum, trying to en- an ecological point of view ationspecial of powerpower (Grand Canal d’Alsace) stationsplant operation water levels upstream of the weir. flood peak sure that nearly 100% of the Rhine’s total After opening the weir gates, the present alluvial floodplains (including areas affected by the dam Rhine relocation water is removed from the retention area. emergency operation of the power Basel Like polders, weirs may be utilised for the stations south of Strasbourg) purpose of flood retention in a targeted and days retention facilities (France and highly efficient way, and just like polders, Rhineland-Palatinate) Controllable retention measures their operation may require ecological may be specifically targeted at 0 10 20 30 km mitigating flood peaks, while the flooding. alleviating impact of uncontrolled © Regierungspräsidium Freiburg, as of June 2016 flooding starts earlier. 10 Sustainable flood control Ecological goals 11

Flood protection Measures Dam relocations will allow in harmony with increasing discharge vol- umes of the River Rhine to nature freely inundate former (Framework Concept, Part I) floodplains.

Flood protection must be achieved in an environmentally-friendly way. The discharge regime This is stipulated in the Nature in the River Rhine forelands Conservation Act. The latter re- will be improved. For ensuring the unimpeded quires that any change entailing a flow of water, specific considerable adverse impact on measures including the HYDROLOGICAL BALANCE Intact floodplain communities need reconnection of dead arms the efficiency and functional capa- TYPICAL OF FLOODPLAINS regular inundation. However, floods requir- to the River Rhine will be taken. bilities of intact habitats and their Fluctuations in levels ing the use of retention areas are not respective fauna and flora (inter- typical of floodplains as well as flood-in- frequent enough to ensure this regularity. vention) is to be avoided, mitigated duced sediment transfer processes are to be On average, they occur approx. every Streams will be restored, restored and/or allowed whenever possible. 10 years or even less frequently. But intact e.g. by building fish ladders. or offset. This enables fish, such as Ecological flooding as such will not ecosystems will only develop if regular the salmon, to reclaim Only semi-natural wetlands along suffice to restore the entire mosaic of nat- flooding is ensured. As a consequence, this their spawning grounds. the River Rhine are able to fulfil ural biotopes in the Rhine floodplains. regular, managed flooding (called ecologi- The Integrated Rhine Programme their important functions within the Dam relocations provide optimum condi- cal flooding) embraces the mandatory transforms the Upper Rhine plain back into framework of landscape ecology. tions for the development of semi-natural mitigation action legally required under semi-natural land- Floodplains provide natural space wetlands. This is the only way to allow the the Nature Conservation Act. scape by means of the Integrated Rhine multitude of interactions between the river Without being subjected to regular for flood control. Biotope networking will Programme. be performed by incor- Ecological floodings and the floodplains to develop without flooding, the retention areas would only porating sites located out- turns the flood reten- GENTLE ADAPTATION TO any interference from outside. attract fauna and flora unfit to cope with side the retention areas. tion areas into flood FLOODING STRESS tolerant habitats. inundations during the periods between This results in the restora- Existing floodplain The former floodplains along the River ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY tion of natural habitats biotopes are protect- individual flood events. To ensure that for fauna and flora. FLOOD CONTROL VIA ECOLOGICAL ed, preserved and Rhine that are to be re-flooded must be these areas are regularly exposed to water, further developed. FLOODING slowly and carefully readjusted to this ecological flooding is carried out when The IRP reintegrates areas that have changed environment while allowing the Rhine discharge volumes are low. Thus, the not been exposed to flooding for several typical alluvial forests to redevelop. Semi- flooding of wetland habitats, fluctuations decades into the natural flood regime of Drained and previously natural wetland forests embrace flood-tole- in groundwater levels and flood-induced marshy or boggy areas the River Rhine. Fauna and flora currently located in the Upper Rhine rant communities capable of surviving flood soil shifts are restored populating the future floodplains are not basin at the foot of the events without sustaining larger damage. and/or allowed to the maxi- escarpment will be recon- adjusted to inundations. They would not verted into wetlands, e.g. For this reason, the task of the Inte- mum extent possible. survive flooding without sustaining damage. by dispensing with the grated Rhine Programme goes beyond Based on the findings further maintenance of Thus, inundations during periods of flood drainage channels. flooding the retention areas during major of available surveys and the retention result in changes that constitute flood events – i.e. every 10, 20 or 30 years – experiences gained so far, interventions in existing habitats as defined by raising water levels to a height of several ecological flooding is key to There are still remnants metres; in addition, it is to ensure that the in the Nature Conservation Act. avoiding and/or mitigating of alluvial woodlands For mitigating losses in future retention areas are exposed to water even if Rhine losses that will occur as a along the Upper Rhine. They will be preserved discharge volumes are lower. areas, it is necessary to create the prerequi- result of flood retention. and protected. sites for the development of intact, flood- plain-like ecosystems. 1412 Flood scenario Flood scenario 13

Using the Polders Altenheim in the event of flooding

“And now let’s turn our attention to the weather: The sudden heat will persist at higher altitudes. Just like the past few days, today will bring sustained heavy rainfall to southern Germany and Switzerland. For the rest of the week, there is 980 no change in sight.“ Stage1: Due to heavy rainfall, the discharge volume of the Upper Rhine exceeds This could be the rough wording of the flood alert level of 8m at the Hauenstein gauging station. Flood alert levels are also exceeded at other gauging stations located on the tributaries as well as on a forecast by the German Meteorological the River Neckar. Service. As a consequence, the Altenheim The Central Flood Forecasting Office (“Hochwasservorhersagezentrale” – HVZ) of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, which permanently monitors the discharge regimes Stage 4: In order to prevent any adverse impact caused by rising groundwater lev- Polders would be used for the purpose of of the key water bodies of the federal state by means of a computer-controlled system, els in the adjacent Altenheim area, specific protection measures (Altenheim pumping has already started to provide its round-the-clock service. From now onwards, the HVZ flood retention as described below: station and inlet/outlet control) are implemented simultaneously with the operation of office computes flood forecasts for the most important gauging stations of the federal the Altenheim Polders. These measures ensure that groundwater levels in the Altenheim state that are updated on an hourly basis and based on water level and precipitation region do not deteriorate due to the retention of flood water. During flood retention data as well as rain forecasts provided by the German Meteorological Service. periods, the local fire brigade keeps checking the dams. Equipment and materials for The projections made by the HVZ office predict the occurrence of a major flood event securing seepages are available. along the River Rhine: The discharge volume at the Maxau gauging station in Karlsruhe will exceed both the level of 3,800 m3/s and 4,200 m3/s. The use of the Polders Alten- heim for flood retention purposes is prepared. There is a permanent exchange of updated information between the Central Flood Forecasting Office, the Ministry of the Environ- ment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector as well as the operator of the Polders Altenheim. Stuttgart 900 Stage 2: Via public address announcements, the general public is notified of the polder flooding and requested to leave the retention areas. The staff of the operating company, the workers of the municipal building control offices, the police and the volunteer fire brigade are working 24-hour shifts. In the meantime, the Polders Altenheim and their immediate vicinity are widely cordoned off. For safety reasons, people are no longer allowed to access the polders while this gives animals a chance Declining water levels of the River Rhine result to withdraw without being disturbed. The body in charge of the Stage 5: in a termination of water retention measures and polder drain- entire operation and responsible for permanent monitoring is age is commenced. For this purpose, the polder outlets are the central control station located at the cultural weir near fully opened. Afterwards, cleaning-up operations by the oper- Kehl/Strasbourg. 990 ating company are required. Stage 3: When the decision in favour of flood retention mea- sures is taken, the polders are flooded. Up to 150 m3/s of Rhine water are channelled into the n conjunction with the cultural weir near Kehl/Strasbourg, the Polders Söllingen/ polders via inlets and culverts. In these locations, water levels IGreffern as well as parts of the Weil-Breisach retention area, the total volume of water 1000 keep rising until the river over- that my be retained today amounts to 75.3m m3. An operation of this kind may last up tops its embankments and finally inundates the entire area. Once to 5 days. Once all retention areas are ready for use, they are operated in accordance with the planned retention water level the rules and regulations stipulated at an international level, always subject to the respec- is reached, the polders retain a total water volume of 17.6m m3. tive flood event. On the Baden-Württemberg shore of the river, a total of 167.3m m3 of water may be retained subsequent to the completion of the Integrated Rhine Programme. Moreover, the flood peak of the Rhine may be reduced by a further 105.3m m3 of water once flood retention measures in France and Rhineland-Palatinate are completed. 14 Importance of the floodplains Importance of the floodplains 15

Flood prevention function Floodplains constitute a landscape’s natural flood retention areas New habitats for a large variety and protect both man and the environment against damage/ losses caused by floods. Restoring and conserving wetlands is of fauna and flora instrumental in providing flood control. (Framework Concept, Part II)

The protection, conservation, de- These ecological measures are instru- velopment and preservation of the mental in enhancing the situation of the remaining semi-natural floodplain entire Rhine basin. The IRP helps put into practice the objectives and fundamental biotopes constitute important principles of nature conservation in the prerequisites for the restoration of natural environment of the “northern and the Upper Rhine wetlands. southern Upper Rhine lowlands”. These Genetic potential The River Rhine does not only transport debris, sand and gravel. After each flood, organ- goals are in line with the provisions laid This goal may be achieved by way ic substances, branches, fruits and seeds are deposited in other areas and mixed with the down in the national and international local plant material. Not only for fauna, but also for flora, water bodies flowing through of designating conservation areas and estab- wetlands constitute a kind of ferry allowing plants to venture out and open up new agreements for the protection of the Upper lishing and implementing preservation, habitats. Rhine lowlands. In many ways, both fauna development and networking schemes. and flora along the Upper Rhine are already Intensively managed areas are to be recon- benefiting from the measures taken in the verted into a semi-natural state by means context of the Integrated Rhine Programme. of appropriate measures. In the Upper First signs of success are visible in the Rhine Rhine floodplains, this is brought about basin north of Iffezheim. by reconnecting parts of the former flood- Alluvial floodplains are priceless. plains to the discharge regime of the River Representing a mosaic of different habitats Rhine, engaging in the extensification of or biotopes they form an important ecosys- intensively managed farmland and by gra- tem. This ecosystem does not constitute dually reconstructing forest stands, to a confined area, but is characterised by per- name but a few examples. manent change and natural development. Diversity of species and structural It is the diversity of factors, species, bio- diversity Human recreation and the experience of nature Floodplains display many interesting faces. Again and again, topes and communities that makes up the In the floodplains, human beings may gain a first-hand experience of the conflict between the dynamics of the water generate new habitats for a large unique character of a wetland ecosystem. water and the landscape. The large diversity of flora and fauna always surprises the variety of fauna and flora. This is where many endangered visitor by unveiling new secrets. Floodplains provide natural areas for recreation while animals and plants included in the Red List of Threatened stem. allowing for spare time spent in harmony with nature. Species like the kingfisher still find refuge.

Rarity In , many floodplains are destroyed by human intervention. Unique character This also applies to the Upper Rhine, where only few connected Floodplains are unique. The interplay between the duration, level areas are left. The Integrated Rhine Programme harbours the and frequency of flooding results in a comprehensive mosaic great opportunity of preserving one of the last river landscapes of habitats. in Europe. For some animal and plant species, such as the float- ing fern, the Upper Rhine area constitutes the only or one of very few habitats. 16 Outlook Outlook 17

Outlook The successful implementation of the Integrated Rhine Programme will depend on many individual measures. So far, the following flood retention areas have been complet- ed and successfully put into service: the Polder Altenheim, the cultural weir near Kehl/Strasbourg, the Polder Söllingen/Greffern as Documenting changes in the well as the Polder Rheinschanzinsel. In addition, some of the areas of landscape the Weil-Breisach (Framework Concept Part III) whose soil surface was lowered to Flood control measures bring methods for recording the fauna some extent are also instrumental about changes in the landscape in- and flora. This allows us to capture in providing flood protection. cluding its flora and fauna. Thus, developments in areas that were Thus, currently around 45% of the the third volume of the IRP Frame- reconnected to the discharge regime required retention capacity is avai- work Concept was developed for of the River Rhine. Since such lable. Further flood retention areas the specific purpose of document- changes are proceeding fairly slow- are in the process of construction ing such transformations. ly, these standards are to ensure or undergo approval procedures. The “Ecological Efficiency Review” that the results obtained will still represents a collection of appro- be comparable many years later. The Integrated Rhine Programme priate and standardised monitoring can only be implemented when all stakeholders close ranks and make a joint effort. In the long run, these endeavours will pay off. The Upper Rhine Plain will benefit from recurring wetland biotopes with their diversity of species and multifaceted structures. At the same time, flood hazards will be mitigated. The IRP is the prerequisite for the reduction of damage/losses caused by centennial floods along the Upper Rhine. For further information on the Integrated Rhine Programme, please visit our website at www.irp-bw.de There you will also find comprehensive information available for download or ordering.

These measures are co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany.

Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE PROTECTION AND THE ENERGY SECTOR