VERBUND starting on the restoration of the reservoirs along the Lower Inn
VERBUND is starting on the restoration of individual reservoirs along the Lower Inn as part of the LIFE nature conservation project “Riverscape Lower Inn”. Work will begin with the restoration of the Aufhausener Lacke at the Inn power plant Egglfing-Obernberg.
Since the construction of the Inn power plant Egglfing-Obernberg, the Aufhausener Lacke on the left bank of the Inn has been a stagnant body of water that has become increasingly silted up in recent decades due to the influx of sand and sediment during natural floods. The Lacke has been dry all year round since 2022 and reeds are now taking over the area. As the residual dynamics in the floodplains on the water side of the embankments are not sufficient to achieve a natural discharge of the fine sediments, construction work will be carried out in the coming months as part of the LIFE project.
The planned construction project will be implemented in close coordination with the responsible authorities as part of the watercourse maintenance and the work will be carried out between October 2024 and March 2025 under ecological supervision.
Near-natural floodplain waters as a valuable habitat for decades to come
The “new” Aufhausener Lacke and its neighbouring areas will be developed as near-natural floodplain waters. Once completed, the still water will remain in place for decades and serve as a valuable habitat for fish, water birds, amphibians and insects in the Inn floodplains. It will be equipped with shallow water zones and deep areas.
By connecting the deep zone to the Inn, fish will once again be able to use the Aufhausener Lacke as a habitat. In turn, the shallow water areas provide a perfect environment for fish larvae and juvenile fish as well as for waterfowl.
The connection to the Inn will be limited to the downstream end of the Lacke in order to avoid rapid resedimentation due to the entry of suspended matter as far as possible. Experience from other ecology projects has shown that floodplain waters that are only connected to the river at their downstream end last the longest.
The restoration of the Aufhausener Lacke will thus improve habitat diversity in the European nature reserve, thereby contributing to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.
