17 files for the Jochenstein fish bypass submitted
Documents for the fish bypass channel and additional documents on the energy storage facility in Riedl were submitted to the District Office in Passau.
Today on Tuesday, 23 July 2013, as part of the planning permission hearings, the Donaukraftwerk Jochenstein AG (DKJ) submitted the documents and expert reports for the planned fish bypass at the Jochenstein power plant at the District Office in Passau. The promoter of the project has also submitted documents which were demanded at a later date by the responsible approval authorities, in this case the District Office, for the completed assessment of the energy storage facility in Riedl. The total ESR-plan record now comprises 61 files.
Bypass Channel as Fish Bypass
The Donaukraftwerk Jochenstein AG has submitted the application papers for the planned fish bypass ahead of time. The promoter of the project has favoured the EU Water Framework Directive's funding to make the river in Jochenstein accessible for fish to swim through by 2021, so that the time taken for the construction measures in the project area can be limited to a few years. This will be done by constructing the energy storage facility at the same time. With the fish bypass, the DKJ is planning a detour for aquatic animals to get around the power plant in Jochenstein. The facilities will make it possible to get over the barrage- which is about nine metres high- via a 3.3km long bypass stream and in this way creating a way through the two reservoirs in Aschach and Jochenstein.
A Natural Design
The fish bypass will be located on the left bank of the Danube, be around 3.3 kilometres long and offer flora and fauna a new and valuable habitat. This will take the form of meandering streams and loops. Along the small town of Jochenstein, it will flow parallel to the walls of the river bank and a viewing terrace will be constructed at the restaurant located there. Downstream from Jochenstein it will wind its way in large curves over open spaces and flow into the Danube a little beyond the border between Germany and Austria.
The Needs of the Fish Fauna Determine the Design of the Fish Bypass
Crucial for the dimensions and the design of the fish bypass is the predominant fish fauna present in the Danube near Jochenstein, especially catfish. The creation of the bypass will be carried out in three separate stages of construction and take around 14 months. Construction should start in the middle of 2016.
The bypass channel should then be completed in 2017. The construction of the fish bypass will mean that the EU Water Framework's specifications to provide an ecological through-way through the barrage in Jochenstein will be fulfilled.
Addition to the Documents for the Energy Storage Facility in Riedl Submitted in 2012
Following the preliminary approval of the design and what is called the usability and completeness test of the submitted documents in autumn 2012 for the energy storage facility in Riedl, the District Office in Passau decided around six months ago, that completion of the documents were required in order to be able to carry out an evaluation. These documents, pertaining to water legislation and procedures, water management, rural development and environment protection, fishing, navigation and nature conservation as well as building and construction have now been prepared by the experts in charge and handed in later. Documents, which address in more detail the issues concerning the city of Passau as well as the Republic of Austria were also submitted later.
