river landscapes
Designed river landscapes can be brought to life through the visitor's nuanced perceptions.
Die heutige Vorstellung definiert sich meist als die Kunst und Wissenschaft der Gestaltung von Außenräumen. Ziel ist es überwiegend ein Areal an Boden, ein Stück Land zu verschönern und funktionaler zu gestalten mit dem Ziel der Schaffung attraktiver Außenbereiche. Bei der Verschönerung von Außenbereichen denken viele an die Anlage von Hausgärten, Stadtparks, Spiel- oder Sportplätzen, Verkehrsrondellen, die Kreation von Straßenalleen, Wegegestaltungen, Flusslandschaften, Kletterbereiche und vieles mehr.
How can people engage more deeply and concretely with the landscapes that have already been created? They can, for example, ask themselves questions such as:
How does the visitor experience the designed areas? Are they inviting? Do they embrace people?
The more independently a visitor forms a connection with these spaces, the more attentive interest they give to nature. In this way, they ‘give’ something to nature and nurture it in a sensitive manner.
The more independently a visitor forms a connection with these spaces, the more attentive interest they give to nature. In this way, they ‘give’ something to nature and nurture it in a sensitive manner.
Trostberg:
A well-known river landscape can be found in the Alpine foothills near Trostberg. In Altenmarkt, Germany’s most water-rich natural waterfall – the ‘Alzfall’ – can be admired.
The Alz continues flowing towards Trostberg and empties into the Inn. The river landscape is very diverse, characterized by picturesque river valleys and floodplains. A short excerpt is shown in this video:
River design on the Lech: Design of a fish ladder at Lech Weir 18
Over many years, the Lech was transformed from a wild and mountain river. Today, it features 23 storage weirs and a chain of reservoirs.
Lech Weir 18
To create a habitat suited to the needs of the approximately 25 fish species present in the Lech (such as barbel, nase, huchen, bream, brown trout, carp, pike, zander, grayling, and burbot, to name just a few), a fish ladder was constructed at Lech Weir 18.
This was done in collaboration with the District Fishing Association Landsberg am Lech e.V. and Uniper Power Plants in Kaufering, and integrated into the river system.
This was done in collaboration with the District Fishing Association Landsberg am Lech e.V. and Uniper Power Plants in Kaufering, and integrated into the river system.
The Lech (below Lech Weir 18)
Fish passage from the Lech to shallow water areas
Fish ladder
Shallow areas downstream of the fish ladder
Stream featuring natural barriers and woody debris
River fish need, among other things, shallow gravelly areas for spawning. They seek these by migrating upstream. Other considerations include the search for safe wintering sites or new feeding grounds. For this reason, a stream with natural obstacles and deadwood was created, providing the fish with these opportunities.
The visitor encounters a beautiful design here, based on the principles of functionality and utility. If they also wish to be creatively active and introduce a concept of enhancing nature, they can consider various questions:
- What forms have been created here?
- How are they related to each other?
- …
This draws the visitor’s attention to the designed forms and allows them to experience them sensorially.
Renaturation measures on the Ammer:
Renaturation generally refers to the restoration of a river to its original state.
“The Ammer originates in Ettal, flows through Weilheim, and empties into Lake Ammersee. It is a river landscape south of Munich. For centuries, the natural river landscape was repeatedly altered through straightening measures, the construction of weirs, and hydropower plants. Due to repeated severe flood damage—most notably the Pentecost flood in 1999—various measures were implemented in the town of Weilheim.
At this point, the Ammer is approximately 50 meters wide. To provide fish with the possibility of ascending, a rough ramp (partial ramp) was constructed at this section of the weir.
A sill chute was designed over a width of 14 meters with a slope of 1:25.
A sill chute is a structure intended to limit the deep erosion of the Ammer. To ensure optimal water flow over the chute even during low water, the weir edge in the chute area was lowered by 30 cm over a width of 7 meters. Following the chute, there is an 8-meter-long stilling basin with a subsequent bed protection area behind it.
River landscape along the Ammer
“Why was this done?
On a sign next to the Ammer, the following explanation can be found:
‘Sill chutes allow all aquatic organisms to ascend, not just certain species, as is the case with conventional steeper ramps. The sill chute is also easier to navigate for boaters. Additional advantages include better hydraulic efficiency and an improved visual appearance, as it is modeled after natural examples. Sill ramps also have greater structural stability than conventional ramps.
The partial ramp is the first construction phase of a complete redesign.'”
On a sign next to the Ammer, the following explanation can be found:
‘Sill chutes allow all aquatic organisms to ascend, not just certain species, as is the case with conventional steeper ramps. The sill chute is also easier to navigate for boaters. Additional advantages include better hydraulic efficiency and an improved visual appearance, as it is modeled after natural examples. Sill ramps also have greater structural stability than conventional ramps.
The partial ramp is the first construction phase of a complete redesign.'”