RESTORE field visits to Germany and Switzerland

Although the rain kept us company during most of the visit, we were lucky enough to be able to see all the restored river features before they were drowned by the large June floods. During the first part of the excursion we visited the River Isar in Munich to see how the Isar Plan has enhanced ecological and fluvial processes through the city, and improved fish passage whilst at the same time providing new recreation areas along the banks (http://www.werkstatt-stadt.de/en/projects/68/).

We also visited areas upstream and downstream of Munich where alluvial forests and the floodplain has been re-connected with the river and the channel is allowed to migrate across the valley floor. During the field visit to the River Rhine, Aare and Limmat in Switzerland we saw how river processes, habitat connectivity, fish access and fish spawning opportunities have been enhanced, especially at hydropower plants. At Rheinfelden, we visited a bypass with the largest constructed reproduction habitats in Europe, including pool type fish pass and a vertical slot fish way. A special thanks to our excellent guides Walter Binder, Nivedita Mahida, Matthias Junge and Rolf-Jürgen Gebler.

Ulrika Åberg, RRC, Ulrika@therrc.co.uk