Knowledge Exchange on River Restoration: Living Rivers Visits LIFE IRIS
At the end of April, we welcomed visitors from the Living Rivers project in Slovakia. The group included not only project partners but also practitioners, students, and decision-makers, all eager to see how nature-based solutions for river restoration can successfully be implemented.
The visit was organised by BROZ Conservation Association.
Two Days, Three Rivers, and Plenty of Exchange
Over two days, we visited the LIFE IRIS restoration sites along the Leitha, Danube, and Pielach together. Our project team and local experts guided the group through each location, sharing insights into planning, implementation, and next steps.
Day 1: River Restoration along the Leitha
The first day took the group to several sites along the Leitha in Burgenland and Lower Austria. Through the reconnection of former side channels and various structural measures, new islands and valuable spawning habitats for fish are being created. The restoration measures also benefit other species such as dragonflies, amphibians, and waterfowl, improving the overall habitat quality along the river.
Along the Leitha, structurally rich and lively river sections are being created
In the period from October 2022 to March 2023, a section of the Leitha near Gattendorf was revitalized by reconnecting an old river branch.
Alongside the measures themselves, we also presented the accompanying monitoring — an important building block for documenting the long-term impact of the interventions on target species and ecosystems.
Day 2: Danube near Wilhering and Pielach
On the second day, the first stop was the Danube near Wilhering. Here, a side channel had already been successfully restored in the past. Currently, work is underway to extend this side channel further.
In the Marktau area near Ottensheim and Wilhering, an existing side arm of the Danube is being extended by about 400 meters. The measures will…
A special highlight at the end was the visit of the Pielach: the river impressively demonstrates how a heavily modified watercourse can reclaim its space through natural processes, when given the chance.
Between Obergrafendorf and Weinburg, the Pielach River will soon be able to flow more freely again. New broadening of the river, raised riverbeds, and more…
Knowledge exchange and future collaboration
Both days were accompanied by our project experts, who provided fascinating insights into planning and implementation and answered our guests’ questions. The questions barely stopped, surely a good sign.
What stands out beyond the technical insights is the personal exchange: new ideas have emerged, and there are already concrete plans for future collaborations.
Foto Credits: BROZ Conservation Association
LIFE IP IRIS: From theory to practice
GE-RM | MONITORING | MEASURES
Revitalisation measures at LIFE-IRIS
Revitalisation measures create new habitats for fish and other…
In the Marktau area near Ottensheim and Wilhering, an…
Between Obergrafendorf and Weinburg, the Pielach River will soon…
New habitats and improved flood protection on the Lafnitz…
