Last updated: October 2021
New recreation zone "Norikus Bay" in Nurenberg was completed in 2018 on the south bank of the Wöhrder lake, an artificial lake created in 1968 to protect the city from flooding. The dam itself, which is a 400m long path separating a part of the water surface from the bigger part of the lake, has become a tourist attraction with a water playground and other recreational amenities being offered. The water is naturally cleaned through the regeneration zone with natural plant filter, and simultaneously improves the habitat of fish and makes recreational swimming in possible in the cleaner water. New green areas are organized on the shore in order to improve environmental, aesthetic and recreational conditions of the area (1, 7, 8).
Bay at Norikus
Photographer: Christine Dierenbach, retrieved 09/20/2018 from Data Exchange Service (City of Nürnberg)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Other
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Waste management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1. To create a new recreational area (1)
2. To sustain and enhance biodiversity (1)
3. Ecological improvement of the lake and surrounding areas (2)
4. To protect the city from flooding (2)
5. To improve the water quality in the lake (2)
6. To increase a flow velocity in the lake (2)
7. To reduce sludge deposition (2)
8. Improving the recreational quality of the shore surrounding the bay (7)
Implementation activities
1. A 400-meter long dam was created, separating a part of the water surface from the bigger part of the lake (1)
2. Reed plants for natural water filtering were planted (1)
3. New trees and greenery were planted on the shore (1)
4. A barrier-free access to water and recreational facilities were provided (1)
5. Benches and walkways were arranged (1)
6. A solid spillway was erected in order to allow water and fish to move freely (2)
7. 300,000 cubic meters of mud were removed from the bottom of the lake (3)
8. A water playground was created on the dam (8)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was initiated and led by the local government. The company GAUFF Engineering was commissioned by the Water Management Office Nürnberg (Wasserwirtschaftsamt Nürnberg) to prepare and implement the construction measures for the "Wöhrder See Water World" at Norikus bay. (4) The reconstruction of the bay was funded by the state of Bavaria, while the recreational facilities financed by the city of Nurnberg (5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(1. GAUFF Engineering was commissioned by the Wasserwirtschaftsamt (WWA) in Nuremberg to prepare and implement the construction measures for the "Wöhrder See Water World" within the execution of the security and health protection regulations (SiGeKo) at Norikus bay (4)
2. The project is realized within the Nurnberg urban development plan "Wöhrder See Water World" aimed at the regeneration of the Wöhrder lake (3))
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
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- 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
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Stadtportal Nürnberg. (2017). Wöhrder See: Bucht am Norikus. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020]
2. Wasserwirtschaftsamt Nürnberg. (nd.) Der Wöhrder See - Wasserwelt im Herzen Nürnbergs. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
3. Source link (2012). Wöhrder See. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
4. Gauff Engineering. (2017). Wasserwelt Wöhrder See. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
5. Bayernkurier. (2016). Strand am Wöhrder See wird 120 Meter länger. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
6. Source link (2015). Wöhrder See wird zur Freizeit-Oase. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
7. Wasserwirtschaftsamt Nürnberg. (nd.) Bucht am Norikus. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
8. Source link (nd.) Norikus-Bucht Nürnberg. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
2. Wasserwirtschaftsamt Nürnberg. (nd.) Der Wöhrder See - Wasserwelt im Herzen Nürnbergs. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
3. Source link (2012). Wöhrder See. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
4. Gauff Engineering. (2017). Wasserwelt Wöhrder See. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
5. Bayernkurier. (2016). Strand am Wöhrder See wird 120 Meter länger. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
6. Source link (2015). Wöhrder See wird zur Freizeit-Oase. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
7. Wasserwirtschaftsamt Nürnberg. (nd.) Bucht am Norikus. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
8. Source link (nd.) Norikus-Bucht Nürnberg. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 23 Sept. 2020].
Bay at Norikus
Photographer: Christine Dierenbach, retrieved 09/20/2018 from Data Exchange Service (City of Nürnberg)