Last updated: October 2021
The once rich in fish Nidda river in the north of Frankfurt was canalized and dammed in the 20th century. River loops were pierced, filled in or made into oxbow lakes. Newly built weirs stopped the fish migration. The expansion provided good protection against flooding, but the river became a canal (2). In the 1990s, the Nidda neighbours developed a program for the renaturation of the river, the concept "Natural Nidda". It was decided by the city council of Frankfurt am Main in 1998 (2). The project consisted of many measures aiming at the restoration of the natural course and ecosystem of the Nidda river, the creation new habitats for flora and fauna, the expansion of the floodplain area and thus the river's retention capacity, the deconstruction of weirs, the renovation and building of bridges and the reconnection of disconnected branches of Nidda. Besides the environmental aspects, another project goal was to make the riverside more accessible for local offering various ways for relaxation and recreation. (2,7)
Source: https://news.stadtentwaesserung-frankfurt.de/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1. Restoration the near-natural course of the Nidda river and its ecological continuity (1);
2. Improvement the water quality (1);
3. Removal the obstacles to the migration of fish and other aquatic species (1);
4. Preservation of flood security and constant groundwater level (1, 2);
5. Increase biodiversity in and along the river (4);
6. Creation of a variety of new habitats for flora and fauna species with the reconstruction of dams and weirs (4,7 );
7. Creation of recreational area for locals (7).
Implementation activities
1. The expansion of sewage treatment plants (1)
2. The upgrading of combined sewer overflows (1)
3. The nature-conscious development of the river (1)
4. Planting floodplain plants to the banks (1)
5. Allowing deadwood and gravel banks (1)
6. Reconnection of side branches of the river to the main course of Nidda (2)
7. Removal of old flood protection dam was removed and rebuilt around a silted-up oxbow lake (2)
8. The riverside path was laid out on the new dam (2)
9. The old weir bridge was replaced by a new bridge (2)
10. Where the deconstruction of a weir wasn't possible, a ramp was installed to support the migration of fishes (2)
11. Creation of additional retention areas (2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
- Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
In the 1990s, The Nidda neighbouring towns and cities developed a program for the renaturation of the river called the "Natural Nidda" concept. The program was officiated by the City Council of Frankfurt am Main which provides, among other things, to rebuild the six Nidda weirs and to connect oxbow lakes with the river. (7)
The Environmental Agency of Frankfurt with the Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt Company was commissioned to complete the plan for the natural regeneration of Nidda (3). Before the plan approval procedure started, a planning workshop was organized by the local government. During the workshop, citizens were given information about the project and were asked to come up with suggestions on its development (2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The aim was for Frankfurt’s rivers and streams to be in “good condition” by 2015. This general objective, along with the measurement of surface water from 2009 to 2015, was in line with the planning standards and requirements laid down for the whole of Europe in the European Union's Water Framework Directive (4,7).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(1. "Masterplan Rhein" aimed at resettlement of migratory fish such as salmon sea trout and maize in Wisper, Nidda, Schwarzbach, Kinzig rivers (5).
2. Protection of the ashes as a characteristic species of the regions of Mumling and Nidda, in the framework of the implementation of the EU's Water Framework Directive (5))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority budget
- Private equity funds
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
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
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. (2017). The Nidda : Stadt Frankfurt Am Main | Dezernat Umwelt Und Gesundheit | Umweltamt. Website not available
2. Frankfurt Green City. (2017). Naturnahe Umgestaltung Der Nidda : Stadt Frankfurt Am Main | Dezernat Umwelt Und Gesundheit | Umweltamt. Accessed September 30, 2020, Source link.
3. Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt Am Main. (2017). Home. Website not available
4. Frankfurt Green City. (2017). Water quality. Website not available
5. Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz. (2015). Hessischer Biodiversitatbericht 2015, Accessed on September 30, 2020, Source link
6. Korte, E. et al. (2007). Fischökologische Untersuchung im Fließgewässersystem der Nidda und ihrer Nebengewässer unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Fischarten des Anhangs II der FFH-Richtlinie. Accessed on September 30, 2020,
7. Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt Am Main. (n/a). Der Umbau der Wehre: Meilensteine auf dem Weg zur Naturnahe Nidda. Accessed on September 30, 2020. Source link
2. Frankfurt Green City. (2017). Naturnahe Umgestaltung Der Nidda : Stadt Frankfurt Am Main | Dezernat Umwelt Und Gesundheit | Umweltamt. Accessed September 30, 2020, Source link.
3. Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt Am Main. (2017). Home. Website not available
4. Frankfurt Green City. (2017). Water quality. Website not available
5. Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz. (2015). Hessischer Biodiversitatbericht 2015, Accessed on September 30, 2020, Source link
6. Korte, E. et al. (2007). Fischökologische Untersuchung im Fließgewässersystem der Nidda und ihrer Nebengewässer unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Fischarten des Anhangs II der FFH-Richtlinie. Accessed on September 30, 2020,
7. Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt Am Main. (n/a). Der Umbau der Wehre: Meilensteine auf dem Weg zur Naturnahe Nidda. Accessed on September 30, 2020. Source link
Source: https://news.stadtentwaesserung-frankfurt.de/umbau-der-wehre/hoechster-wehr.html
Source: https://news.stadtentwaesserung-frankfurt.de/naturnahe-nidda.html
Source: https://news.stadtentwaesserung-frankfurt.de/umbau-der-wehre/hoechster-wehr.html