Retoration Saalach

In the 19th century the Saalach, like many other rivers, was straightened. The resulting increase in the discharge velocity caused an increased removal of rocks from the river bed. This resulted in a gradual deepening of the river bed. The floodplain area was flooded less and less often and habitats typical for the floodplain forest disappeared more and more.In the 1980s the problem was recognized and restoration began. Since it was no longer possible to return the Saalach to a natural watercourse, inflowing streams were dammed in the area and channelled into the alluvial forest. Although this did not succeed in restoring the natural flood dynamics through seasonal fluctuations in water level, the groundwater level was raised and a large number of year-round wetland biotopes were created. This measure enabled a near-natural floodplain forest habitat to develop. In addition, non-native tree species, such as spruce and hybrid poplar, were removed.The ongoing biotope maintenance is carried out by the responsible district manager in the form of plenter forest-like permanent forest management and the forest conversion from a spruce-dominated forest into a mixed deciduous forest with sycamore maple, ash, alder, willow and oak. With the support of school classes, strips of woodland or hedges are being planted near the water, which are an important habitat for certain bird species, e.g. stranglers, due to a high number of thorny bushes.