More life in ditches and ponds
And gerd schaar the category of third-order water in the city and country extends from the small ditch to the stream. Some of these are in a deplorable condition. Crammed into narrow channels or with insurmountable ledges for small animals, their natural habitat leaves much to be desired. This also affects their retention function against floods. Agricultural manure in the riparian areas is also detrimental to the water quality.
This constellation not infrequently contradicts the bavarian water act. Hammelburg and wartmannsroth want to act now. They have commissioned a water development concept from the buro fur ingenieurbiologie und landschaftsplanung (BIL, witzenhausen).
The experts presented the project to the city and town councils on monday evening. There was also praise for really beautiful shore areas, where there is nothing to improve.
Possible steps presented
In hammelburg, landscape planner ralf katzschner presented conceivable steps. He said that the city should purchase ten-meter-wide strips of bank to separate the farmland and five meters of grassland. Ditches could be widened to reduce flow velocity. Where there is sufficient space, bypass channels could be built if the course is too steep. The issue stirs emotions because it threatens to restrict farmers' use of the land. Second mayor reimar gluckler (CBB) recalled the discussion about the acquisition of riverbank strips along the saale by the state of freestate. Farmers have gone on the barricades. "It is a long-term ideal", mayor armin warmuth wanted to allay fears of too much actionism.
Unsealing soil
According to the BIL, improvements are desirable for the rechbach in the seeshofer valley, the klingenbach and the eschenbach, among others. It would make sense to at least unseal the bottom of walled-in stream passages. As in untereschenbach, for example. However, complex hydraulic calculations are required, because the rough ground causes the water to have a greater impact on the adjacent masonry. "Sometimes it's not up to it", warned katzschner. City council members like this approach because it doesn't require additional space, as patrick bindrum (CSU) pointed out.
"Even the smallest decrease pays", landscape planner katzschner urged people not to give up if there is resistance to individual projects and if riparian strips are not available in full length. The elimination of the canalization of the creek above feuerthal is desirable, but probably too time-consuming, said katzschner. This could be considered when a renovation is due anyway.
Reimar gluckler warned against increasing conservation land on flat areas after the transfer to city ownership. However, additional expenses at one water point were offset by savings elsewhere, BIL representatives said of their experience. Finally, the city council approved the development plan.
At the meeting in wartmannsroth, quite a few listeners were interested in the topic. The concept was approved by a vote of 13 to 1. Here, sandra fuchs and biologist werner haab from BIL presented their approaches for the renaturation of some streams. The klingenbach and the hofbach near windheim, the weibenbach and the seeleinsquelle near heiligkreuz, the waizenbach in wartmannsroth and near waizenbach, the neuwiesgraben in dittlofsroda and the sippach near schwarzelbach came into focus. The biologists confirmed that the latter is in almost perfect condition.
Giving animals back their natural habitat and preventing floods and erosion are the goals here, too. Admittedly, in some cases the clash of interests between nature and agriculture can be sensed. If, for example, the beaver builds its dam or the field has to take a wide buffer strip away from the creek bank. Demand funds – for example, KULAP – are possible, haab said.