Strabag completes renaturalisation of the Reuss
Strabag steht vor dem Abschluss eines Projekts zur Revitalisierung eines ehemaligen Auenwaldes an der Reuss bei Erstfeld. Der Kanton Uri will die Vielfalt und Struktur der Reuss und Auenlebensräume verbessern.
According to a press release, the Schlieren-based construction company Strabag is carrying out a project on behalf of the canton of Uri to renaturalise areas that were separated from access to the river Reuss by dams in the past. A former alluvial forest near Erstfeld is to be revitalised and reconnected with the Reuss through various construction measures. The revitalisation project started in September 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of April 2024, according to Strabag AG. Up to five specialists will carry out the renaturalisation work with the help of two or three excavators.
The canton of Uri wants to use the project to improve the diversity and structure of the Reuss and its floodplain habitats. The aim is to include both alternating wet and damp areas as well as drier locations in order to promote a wide range of flora and fauna that is suited to the local conditions. The project also serves to protect against flooding near Erstfeld.
According to Strabag, the existing dam on the left bank will be moved back and a side channel created behind the floodplain forest in order to allow the remaining floodplain to flood better and thus return it to the natural dynamics of the Reuss. In order to promote targeted flooding areas during flood events within the floodplain area, breakthroughs will be made in the existing dam and targeted ecological bank stabilisation measures will be installed in the side arm as well as flow-directing elements such as a guiding island and sandbanks in the main stream.
To ensure that the guiding island is not washed away, wooden logs with root plates were installed in the stream bed and covered with boulders and bed load material, according to Strabag.