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In the middle of the 20th century the Steinbach was regulated. This meant that the stream could not sink any further, but it also took away any natural dynamics. In the course of the restoration of the flood protection, also ecological measures were taken. The river bed was widened and drop structures were converted into river bed ramps to improve fish migration.
The BUND Naturschutz is in possession of some areas in the Mariensteiner Moors. Since 1981, these areas have been regularly cleared of bushes and a stream that previously drained the area has been closed. Extensification of surrounding areas is planned.
Areas of the moors Sackfilz, Breitfilz and Tieffilz have been cleared of shrubs (15 ha) and rewetted (10 ha).
With 24 dam power plants, the Lech is the most densely used river in Bavaria. Its original floodplains with their typical flora and fauna have disappeared. Only a few areas, mostly near-natural, have remained, including the Litzauer Schleife south of Schongau. But here, too, natural processes have been disrupted: the construction of the Forggen lake dam has cut off the transport of sand, gravel and boulders (so-called bedload) from the Tyrolean Lech. Strong flood events hardly ever occur anymore due to the strong regulation of the water level.
As there is no longer a natural flood dynamic on the Lech due to strong human influence, there is no longer a dynamic on the Lechleiten either. Slides are not occurring, the sites "age" and change from "location for specialists" to "home for generalists". Spruce for example has spread rapidly on the Lechleiten slopes in recent decades.
Moors and litter meadows are endangered mainly from two sides. On the one hand there is the intensification of use in agriculture. A frequent cause is the nutrient input from neighboring areas, which promotes the conversion of vegetation into more nutritious meadow communities or tall herbaceous fields. On the other hand, there is the abandonment of land use, which leads to a lignification of the area. The Landschaftspflegeverband Traunstein maintains these areas by removing woods and mowing the area regularly.
In the area of the Schnalzwehr at the Ammer near Peiting, the Ammer floodplain is to be reactivated. However, the initial situation and implementation is so complex that the expected construction costs exceed the financial framework of the Hotspot project. In order to be able to initiate this measure, which is very important for the Ammer river, its dynamics and biodiversity, WWF Germany is preparing a plan that is ready for implementation, including the necessary coordination of interests, networking, participation processes and approvals.
The BUND Naturschutz carries out care measures at an project area of 2000 ha at the moors at the Samerberg. On an area of about 20 ha they are mowing the area.
Below Peißenberg, the connections of the old arms and flood channels with the river Ammer were interrupted. The resulting siltation tendencies at the dry falling old waters as well as the missing flooding of the alluvial forest lead to a creeping deterioration of the natural habitats. Only a few remnants of alluvial forest are preserved at the Ammer. Due to the prevented flooding, the tree species composition changes from the original grey alder forest to ash silver willow communities.
Like hardly any other plant species, the tamarisk (Myricaria germanica) characterizes the dynamics of a wild river. This is because the plant can only settle where gravel banks newly emerge during floods. After only a few years, willows and grasses displace the pioneer species. Every river engineering measure such as head storage, bedload barriers, hydroelectric power plants, bank protection or gravel extraction leads to a bedload deficit. The river deepens and narrows, gravel banks can no longer establish themselves.