Last updated: October 2021
Isar River had been regulated at the end of the 19th century by forcing the river into a canal-type bed with embankments. This regulation made a negative impact on the flow velocity of the river, on its temperature balance, and increased the risk of flooding. The goal of the recent development was to restore the river's natural character on an 8-kilometre-long section of the river and to create a semi-natural riverside. (Reference 1, 2) This was considered especially important because the effects of climate change have already increased the frequency of heavy rain events and major floods. (Reference 3) The new concept leaves space for the river to shape and change its bed with every flood. Further aims of the project were to increase biodiversity and recreational quality.
Semi-natural riverside creation for Isar river
Source: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3768185/a-new-lease-of-life-for-the-isar-river-wasserwirtschaftsamt-munchen
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
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
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
- Improving flood protection by increasing the water retention capacity of the 8km long river stretch;
- Returning the riverside area into a near-natural state;
- Restoring ecological functions;
- Improving the water quality;
- Improving biodiversity;
- Improving recreational quality (Reference 1, 3).
Implementation activities
Installations were put in place to improve flood protection. The river bed was broadened and returned to a more natural state by implementing natural river bottom rock ramps or slides with riffles and pools, instead of linear low weirs. (Reference 3) The cross-section of the river was widened from 50m to 90m by the removal of surface embankments, and thus an increased capacity in river runoff was established. (Reference 2) To improve water quality, communities situated on the Isar have completed the process of upgrading their waste-water treatment plants to include UV germicidal irradiation systems. (Reference 5) The technically designed cross-river sills which were in place before, with linear cross-sections that are spaced at 200 meters with drops of maximum one meter cannot be passed by fish in most cases. These have been replaced by flat ramps with stone rock steps in honeycomb design with intermediate pools. “In areas with reduced dyke safety, new dykes were filled in front of the old ones in order to maintain the airside tree population.” (Reference 3)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
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)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
"Since 1995, an interdisciplinary working group including members of Munich city council and the local water authority have been developing a concept for restoring the Isar course in the southern inner-city area of Munich to its natural state. The project takes relevant results of a comprehensive resident survey into account" (Reference 1). "The “Isar-Plan” is a joint project managed by the State of Bavaria and the City of Munich. It is led by the state and is represented by Munich’s State Office of Water Management. In a resolution passed by the city council in 2000, the city’s Department of Public Construction was assigned the project. Since then, it has assumed responsibility for all costs, deadlines and quality-related aspects for the City of Munich as a project partner" (Reference 2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(One of the reason behind the initiation of the project was that already in the 1990s some parts of the river did not match the new flood protection standards (Reference 2))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was carried out in accordance with the Isar-plan (Reference 2).)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority 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
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Other
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Source link. (2017) Semi-natural riverside area in the inner city: München „Isar-Plan“ (Bavaria). Available at: Source link 29 Jul. 2020].
2. Wasserwirtschaftsamt München and Landeshauptstadt München. (2011). Isar-plan: A new lease of life for the Isar River! Munich: Color Gruppe. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
3. Climate Adapt. (2015) Water management plan and restoration of the Isar River, Munich. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
4. Landeshaupstadt München. (nd.) Der Isar Plan - Befreiung der Isar aus ihrem Korsett. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
5. Landeshaupstadt München. (nd) Der Isar Plan - Projektdokumentation.
2. Wasserwirtschaftsamt München and Landeshauptstadt München. (2011). Isar-plan: A new lease of life for the Isar River! Munich: Color Gruppe. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
3. Climate Adapt. (2015) Water management plan and restoration of the Isar River, Munich. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
4. Landeshaupstadt München. (nd.) Der Isar Plan - Befreiung der Isar aus ihrem Korsett. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
5. Landeshaupstadt München. (nd) Der Isar Plan - Projektdokumentation.
Semi-natural riverside creation for Isar river
Source: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3768185/a-new-lease-of-life-for-the-isar-river-wasserwirtschaftsamt-munchen
Semi-natural riverside creation for Isar river
Source: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3768185/a-new-lease-of-life-for-the-isar-river-wasserwirtschaftsamt-munchen