Return to Natural Origins

The Pielach is becoming a living river again and reclaiming its space

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Between Obergrafendorf and Weinburg, the Pielach is being given more room to flow freely again. Targeted channel-widening, bed-level raising, and newly introduced instream structures help reinforce natural river processes. Shallow gravel banks alternate with deep pools, providing essential refuge for many species. Thanks to these restoration measures, the currently heavily regulated and structurally confined Pielach is gradually transforming back into what it once was: a lively, rushing mountain stream that continues as a majestically meandering Alpine river in the flatter basin areas of its lower course (from Prinzersdorf onwards).

The measures, for which the Pielach Water Association is acting as lead partner, will also improve accessibility and attractiveness of the waterway. In future, our blue lifeline will once again invite people to spend time in nature and enjoy the water in all its facets.

Fact Sheet Pielach:

Total Costs

€

Construction implementation

€

Land Acquisition

€

Construction Period

Sep 2025

Oct 2026

To ensure cost- and resource-efficient implementation, only materials that are absolutely necessary for achieving the project goals are moved.

Danube salmon in the Pielach

The Pielach is one of the few rivers where the highly endangered huchen still roams. This predatory fish, also known as the “Danube salmon,” is one of the largest native fish species. Historical catches of specimens up to 1.5 meters long show the impressive size this fish can reach. As a solitary fish that stays in one place, it spends most of its time in its territory— however, during spawning season, it begins to migrate, sometimes covering distances of up to 100 kilometers. This means that the huchen is particularly dependent on rivers that are free of barriers.

The project aims to address the lack of spawning grounds and habitats for huchen. So with a little luck, you will soon be able to see this impressive fish here more often again: a sign that our rivers are becoming more vibrant again, corridors for fish migration have been restored, and nature is reclaiming its place.

What measures are being implemented on the Pielach?

Between Obergrafendorf and Weinburg, the Pielach will return to its original state. Through the natural processes in the river, the Pielach will be able to move and shift more freely here again. The following measures will be implemented:

Channel-widening and raising the riverbed:

The channel and riverbed are being widened and raised so that the Pielach can flow more freely again. This will also allow more sediment to be deposited, which is important for many animals in the river. Raising the riverbed also improves the water supply to dry floodplains and intensifies groundwater exchange. This allows cool groundwater to flow into the river and warm surface water to seep away more easily. The measures do not increase the risk of flooding, as the Pielach is given enough space and a sufficient profile.
Improving continuity:

Old lateral structures and bank reinforcements are being removed or redesigned so that fish and other aquatic species can pass through the river more easily again. This creates a continuous habitat and reconnects the Pielach with its surroundings.
Creating new habitats:

Gravel banks, shallow bank areas, scours, and deadwood create new habitats. In the future, especially fish like huchen, barbel, grayling, common nase, and brown trout will find ideal conditions here. But other animals will benefit from the measures too. Sand martins and kingfishers, for example, use the newly created steep banks (scarp banks) formed by the current as breeding sites. In addition, natural areas will develop where floodplain vegetation with willows and poplars can grow again – habitats that have become rare today.
Land acquisition for river development:

To ensure the long-term development of a dynamic river course, 32 hectares of forest and farmland were purchased or permanently compensated for as part of the project. Together with the existing public waterways, this provides a development corridor with a total length of 5.6 km and an area of approximately 55 hectares.
Improved flood protection:

The widening of the Pielach improves its drainage capacity. In the event of flooding, the water can disperse to areas where it causes little or no damage. This provides better protection for residential areas in the event of an emergency.

Timeline: Measures on the Pielach

Measures Site Plan

Download Site Plan

Measures Site Plan

Download Site Plan

Why are the measures on the Pielach important?

The LIFE IP IRIS project aims to combine flood protection with ecological goals. Nature-based solutions are being used to gradually restore rivers and return them to a near-natural state. At the same time, this also improves flood protection.

Unsatisfactory ecological status

Around 100 years ago, the Pielach river has been heavily straightened and regulated. Despite the fact that today there is more vegetation on the banks again, the ecological condition in the project area remains unsatisfactory.

Power plant operations, numerous impassable barriers, and a monotonous river course have a negative impact on biodiversity. Natural structures such as deep pools, gravel banks, or flat riverbank areas are rare. Deadwood, which creates important habitats for many species, is almost completely absent. At the same time, the riverbed has become increasingly deeper over the decades. The natural, gravel subsoil has disappeared in many places and the Pielach has already dug several meters deep into the bedrock (Schlier/Tegel). The deepening of the river also means that the adjacent floodplain forests are increasingly drying out.

Today, the Pielach River offers hardly any suitable habitats for many fish species and other organisms. Spawning grounds, refuges, and prey fish, especially for predatory fish such as the huchen, are missing.

In addition, the Pielach is becoming increasingly warmer. Compared to the past, the river is on average around three degrees warmer today. This is a major problem for temperature-sensitive species such as huchen and grayling, which prefer cool water.

Flood protection

There is also a need for action in terms of flood protection. In some river sections retention areas are lacking, i.e. areas where water can disperse during floods without causing damage. In some places the water level during floods is very close to the riverbank. In these areas the necessary safety margin, known as the “freeboard,” is too small.

Founded in 1967, the Pielach Water Association has made it one of its most important tasks to improve flood protection and the ecological condition of the river through preventive measures.

The project related measures improve both the ecological condition and flood protection of the Pielach. They help to ensure that not only fish and other living beings feel at home in and around the water. For us, too, the result will be an attractive river landscape that invites us to explore and linger.

If you would like to learn more about the measures taken on the Pielach River and their significance for the Pielach Valley, take a look at the short film by the “Filmchronisten”.

“As Chairman of the Pielach Water Association, I am delighted with the ongoing restoration measures on and in the Pielach river in the municipalities of Weinburg and Obergrafendorf. This is also because the former regulations proved to be counterproductive in the event of flooding. The painful experiences of the event in September 2024 have once again brought the problem into sharp focus.

I am, therefore, grateful not only to the two municipalities in charge for their initiative, but also in particular to those landowners who have made land available for the planned measures. This will make it possible to give our blue lifeline more space again, in line with the motto “better wide water than high water.” In addition, our natural environment will also benefit from the measures for which the Pielach Water Association is acting as lead partner.”

– Gottfried Auer, Chairman of the Pielach Water Association