According to Mayor Bernhard Zwielehner, 1.5 million euros are to “flow” into the waters in the city area, 98 percent of the costs will be borne by the federal and state governments.
A central point is the improved continuity of existing weirs, some of which are to be converted and provided with fish passes. At the confluence of the Breitsach and Oberach at the so-called brewery-Spitz, a new local recreation area might be created: complete with gravel islands and a bank area designed for leisure time.
What such a “brewery beach” might look like has not yet been determined in detail. However, a footbridge is being considered, and specially arranged stones in the stream bed should also allow “crossing with dry feet” when the water level is normal. The Ried brewery is involved as the property owner, and according to the project partners, the cooperation is excellent. “It’s going to be a great lounge area,” say the two deputy mayors, Peter Stummer and Thomas Dim.
“The aim of the overall project is to dismantle the structures and straightening from the 1950s and 60s as far as possible. At the same time, the project is designed in such a way that there will be no deterioration in flood protection,” says Environment City Councilor Lukas Oberwagner.
Thanks to the flood retention basins that now exist in front of Ried, the aquatic ecological upgrading can be implemented at all, according to Martin Brückner from the Braunau engineering office ILA, where the threads come together. “The retention basins give more room for manoeuvre.” The project is to be implemented within three years, involving 3.5 kilometers of water bodies, some of which are currently heavily built-up. 25 neuralgic spots are to become more permeable for fish. In addition, shallow water channels, smaller “islands” and gravel rollers are planned, which slow down the flow speed in favor of the fish. The better connection of small bodies of water like the Ottenbach is also important.
In the course of the planning, the possibility of a small hydroelectric power plant in the city area was even examined, according to Mayor Zwielehner. In view of the small amounts of water, however, a maximum of a 25 to 30 kW turbine is conceivable. This corresponds to the equivalent of the needs of around five households and therefore does not appear to make sense even in times of the energy transition.
Author
Dieter Seitl
Local editor Innviertel
Dieter Seitl
