River Restructuring and Restoration

Country: Austria

Man imposes a variety of physical changes on water courses, such as channelization and land drainage. The ecological consequences can be manifold, one example being the obstruction of faunal migration and a reduction in biodiversity resulting from these human activities and impacts on the environment. This project consisted of the restoration of the Inzinger Lacke, a channalized tributary that was disconnected by a non-return gate from the river Inn, the main river system in Tirol. The main objectives were the reintegration of the tributary into the fluvial system and the restructuring and restoration of the riparian zone, including re-vegetation planning, in order to re-establish up- and downstream migration of aquatic organisms. Based on this, a modern ecological orientated fishery management program could be formulated.

• Environmental assessment
• Feasibility study
• Detail design