The Enns Blue-Green Corridor Project

Introduction

LIFE WeNatureEnns aims to create 20 km of a near-natural river floodplain system along the Enns River between the mouth of the Sölk and Stainach. Measures will target species and habitats in the Natura 2000 sites “Ennstal zwischen Liezen und Niederstuttern (SiteCode: AT2229002)”, “Ennsaltarme bei Niederstuttern (SiteCode: AT2240000)”, and “Gersdorfer Altarm (SiteCode: AT2238000)”.

Project Measures

This is done by:

• Removing bank protections to initiate river widening.
• Initiating typical floodplain habitats with amphibian ponds, meadows, hedges, riparian forest, and reptile habitats in areas close to the river.
• Establishing and enhancing connectivity to tributaries.
• Restoring river mouths of tributaries.
• Introducing dead wood, large woody debris, and engineered lock jams.
• Implementing an ecological oriented sediment management.

Land Exchange Requirement

A prerequisite for the implementation is an exchange of agricultural land away from the river for riparian land. VHP will provide the exchange land free of charge.

Project Ambitions

The aims of the project are ambitious, but the extensive preparatory work carried out under LIFE-Iris has created a rare opportunity to achieve them. The Enns was one of the pilot regions in LIFE-Iris for which a concept of measures has been developed. WeNatureEnns builds strongly on this concept.

Habitat and Species Benefits

The proposed project will significantly increase the amount of high-quality floodplain habitat available, including hedgerows and meadows, benefiting a range of birds, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates listed in standard data forms.

Benefiting Species

Habitats and species that will particularly benefit are:

1. Pioneer sites
2. Riparian forests
3. Gravel- and cave-breeding birds
4. Shrikes
5. Endangered fish guild, including the Danube salmon.

Compliance with Directives

In addition to the objectives of the Habitats Directive, the project will contribute to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to achieve good ecological status. The project will also contribute to the objectives of the Floods Directive by increasing the water storage capacity.