Renaturalization of the Rheindorfer Stream

Bonn, Germany

City population: 305257

Duration: 2001 – 2002

Implementation status: Completed

Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Project area: unknown

Type of area: Residential, Public Greenspace Area

Last updated: October 2021

The 18 km long Rheindorfer stream flowing into the Rhine has faced increased urbanization, industrial activity and surface sealing over the last decades of the 20th century. As a result, numerous interventions were made to its original structure, such as the creation of a concrete bed for the stream and the straightening of the stream course. Meanwhile, an increasing amount of pressure was put on its water carrying capacity. In order to improve the flood retention capacity of the stream, the renaturalization project of the stream was executed in some parts of the water body. The project aims were 1) to restore the natural course of the stream and the state of the riverbeds, thus enhancing the stream's capacity to buffer floods, 2) restore the natural biodiversity of the floodplain and 3) to create a recreational area for locals (1,2).

Renaturalization of the Rheindorfer Stream (From Matthias Franke 2006)

Renaturalization of the Rheindorfer Stream (2006)

Matthias Franke, retrieved 07/19/2018

Overview

Nature-based solution

Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Blue infrastructure
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

1. Increase the retention capacity of the stream during high water levels of the Rhine (1); 2. Recreational space for residents (1); 3. Ecological enhancement of the area and conservation of the tree population (1).

Implementation activities

1. The Rheindorfer stream was freed from its concrete structure and shell (2). 2. Transformation of the straight course of the stream into a curvy course and thus extending the total length of the stream. (2) 3. Plantation of 2,000 different trees and new seeds covering 3,600 sqm, out of which 600 sqm is grassland (1). 4. Creation of a natural floodplain by flattening the riverbeds and the embankments. (2) With these measures, the capacity of the stream as a water retention area was enlarged by 5,000 to a total capacity of 17,000 cubic metres of capture. An additional aim was the reintroduction of natural habitat to improve its provision of ecosystem services (2).

Main beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was designed and implemented by the local water authority (city of Bonn) (1).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (European Water Framework Directive issued in 2000 (integrated water management concept including the preservation of water- and land-related ecosystem services), which in Germany was translated into the following national laws: "Wasserhaushaltsgesetz" and the "Landeswassergesetz" (translated: water regime law, national water law) (4))

... a national policy or strategy? Unknown

... a local policy or strategy? Yes ("Bachentwicklungsplan" (English: River Development Plan) issued by the city council of Bonn in 1988 (4) "Hochwasserschutz-Konzept" (English: Flood Risk Management Concept) issued by the city council of Bonn in 1997 (5))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

Public regional budget

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Climate change
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

References

1. City Council for Urban Development (2002) ‘Die Umgestaltung des Rheindorfer Baches in Auerberg und Graurheindorf’. Bonn: City Council of Bonn, p. 2. Document unavailable on September 11, 2020
2. Kleinfeld, R. (2002) ‘Aus einem Beton-Bach wird eine Auenlandschaft’, General-Anzeiger Bonn. Accessed on September 11, 2020 Source link.
3. Johnen, R. (2002) ‘Zurück zur Natur - stückweise’, Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 19 August. Accessed on September 11, 2020 Source link.
4. Tiefbauamt Bonn (2008) ‘Bachentwicklungsplan 2008. Überarbeitung und Fortschreibung des BEP 1988’. Bonn: City Council Bonn, p. 108. Accessed on September 11, 2020. Source link
5. Stadtbauamt Bonn Kanal-und Wasserbauabteilung (1997) ‘Hochwasserschutz - Konzept’. Bonn: City Council Bonn, p. 82. Accessed on September 11, 2020. Source link
6. Baum, M. and Claren, J. (2017) ‘Gewässerökologische und ökosystemare Untersuchung des Rheindorfer Bachs in Bonn’, Zeitschrift für wasserbezogene Forschung von Studierenden, 1 (Wasser im urbanen Raum. Eine sozio-hydrologische Betrachtung), pp. 42–50. Accessed on September 11, 2020. Source link.

Renaturalization of the Rheindorfer Stream (2006)

Matthias Franke, retrieved 07/19/2018

Renaturalization of the Rheindorfer Stream (2006)

Matthias Franke, retrieved 07/19/2018