LIFE+ - Isobel - Isobel - Integrated SOlutions
for BEd Load management
LIFE15 ENV/DE/000162
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details:
Contact person: Klocke Ralf
Tel: 498213284031
Fax: 498213283840
Email: [email protected]
Project description:
Background
River segments with hydropower facilities are usually considered as ‘heavily
modified water bodies’ under the Water Framework Directive. A natural river
continuously carries bed load material downstream, forming gravel and shallow
water areas. These structures are important spawning grounds and nursery areas
for many species. Barrages disrupt this process by keeping the bed load in the
retaining area, which eventually silts up. This is the case for the river Iller
(Germany), which is heavily influenced by water power facilities. Between
Altusriedz and Lautrach, five power plants with barrages stop the natural bed
load transport of the river. The riverbanks are steep and mounted with large rocks. Many of the barrages
already have bypasses to enable fish to pass the barrier. However, key habitats
are still missing for several species that lived in this part of the river before the
barriers were present. Therefore, despite the existing fish bypass structures, no
natural development of the river banks and the alluvial zones is possible.
Current bed load management techniques play a key role in the process of
establishing these key habitats. However, they are not 100% effective and still
disrupt the environment as they imply aggressive excavation and transfer of
sediments.
Objectives
The LIFE+ ISOBEL project will demonstrate an innovative and
environmentally-friendly approach to revitalise the free flowing parts of the river
Iller, and to reach the good ecological status of all water bodies requested by the
Water Framework Directive. The project’s integrated bed load management
system will be accompanied by guidelines for its implementation in rivers
throughout Europe. The main added value of the proposed system will be its
reduced environmental impact, being much less disruptive to the river and river
banks than current techniques, and also less noise-generating, transport- and
energy-demanding. The project aims to: Define the ‘good ecological status’ for the targeted water body;
Develop and implement target-orientated, minimally invasive, bed load
management that generates the desired water structures;
Establish suitable near-natural habitats for the flora and fauna (e.g.
spawning and nursery grounds, protection against drifting at high water
levels), by replacing existing rock mountings by flat riverside structures;
Through varied structure and habitat-creation make the ecosystem more
robust and climate resilient;
Connect river, river banks and alluvial zones;
Evaluate the water structure development, the effects on biodiversity and
socio-economic impacts; and
Develop guidelines to boost replication and transferability of project results.
Expected results: The project expects to achieve ‘good ecological potential’ at
three river Iller segments (one km each) by integrated bed load management with
better ecological results and much less translocation of material. In particular it
will show the following results: Diverse river and riverbank structures will provide key habitats for the target
species;
Reduced overall demand for bed load material compared to conventional
measures, namely, some 1 500 tonnes of bed load material for river structures
plus about 500 t/year for maintenance of the structures, 1 800 t/year to widen
each of four river sections, and up to 1 600 t of large rocks for additional water
structures in each section;
The quality and quantity of habitats in the river, the river banks, the riparian
zones and the bypasses will be improved significantly, especially for rheophilic
fish species;
Biodiversity will improve and self-sustaining populations of many endangered
species (e.g. H ucho hucho, Cottus gobio, Triturus cristatus) will develop;
The impact of the activities will be monitored continuously (before, directly after,
and one year and two years after), including the ways fish use the bypasses;
The new, more natural habitats will have a better ability to adapt to climate
change, and will improve the landscape for recreational activities;
Based on the monitoring results, guidelines for effective bed load management
will be developed that are transferable to all European rivers; and
The results of the project will be disseminated to all relevant target groups at
regional and EU-level.
Results
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Environmental issues addressed:
Themes
Water - River basin management
Keywords
river management‚ river Target EU Legislation
Water
Directive 2000/60 - Framework for Community action in the field of water
policy (23.10.2000)
Natura 2000 sites
Not applicable
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Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Type of organisation
Description
Partners
Bayerische Elektrizitätswerke GmbH
Large enterprise
Bayerische Elektrizitätswerke GmbH is a
subsidiary of Lech Werke AG (LEW) in
Augsburg. The LEW group operates as a
regional energy supplier for around 500 000
customers in Bavaria and parts of
B a d e n - W ü r t t e m b e r g . T h e b u s i n e s s s e g m ents
include hydropower, energy services and a
range of network services. Universität Augsburg - Institut für Geographie,
Germany Fischereiverband Schwaben e.V.,
Germany Top
Administrative data:
Project reference
Duration
Total budget
EU contribution
Project location
LIFE15 ENV/DE/000162
01-JUL-2016 to 31-DEC -2019
1,812,231.00 €
1,087,338.00 €
Bayern(Deutschland)
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Project web site
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Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e