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Renaturation of the "Felsalbe" waterway
Stream’s natural course recreated following modification to form anti-tank trench
The “Felsalbe” tributary of the Hornbach river in the Südwestpfalz region of southwestern Germany was expanded and straightened in the 1930s to form a water-filled anti-tank trench as part of Germany’s Siegfried Line defences.
A renaturation project has now been carried out in coordination with the state office for the preservation of historical monuments and with the foundation “Grüner Wall im Westen – Mahnmal ehemaliger Westwall” (“Green Wall in the West - Memorial of the former Siegfried Line”). Over a distance of approximately 2.5 km, this included changing the river’s course in about 16 locations, and the improvement of ecological quality through hundreds of physical elements such as carefully positioned uprooted trees along the river’s edge, and gravel banks.
The newly formed natural course of the river creates new living space for wildlife and makes a significant contribution to increasing biodiversity. In addition, due to its history, the “Felsalbe” is an important memorial site and therefore of particular interest for the region. At the inauguration ceremony at the beginning of July 2021, climate protection minister Anne Spiegel stressed the importance of the project. Inros Lackner was responsible for the project’s planning and design work and for site supervision.
Source: mkuem.rlp.de/de/pressemeldungen