To re-gain lively streams in the middle of the urban surroundings. Enhance co-operation of local citizens, who restructure typical riverine habitats, learn a lot about the brooks at their doorstep and see how nature re-enters the city. All of this can not only be considered as part of the ongoing process of the Water Framework Directive`s implementation but also as important aspects in Agenda 21 activities and support for the improvement of the urban society.

“Trout 2010” re-establishes “the typical local trout brook" with engaged citizens in the middle of the urban Hamburg area. The results are used as best practice in other places of the North German Lowland Area. It is not only an ecological but a sociopsychological approach, as well. The new perception of waters is a real phenomenon: where there was a silent slow flowing canal suddenly a murmuring brook appears.

„Trout 2010“ achieves improvements via co-operation of an NGO (BUND Hamburg), the engaged citizen groups, an environmental fund and the Wandsbek administration. Brown trout being but one key species. ‘Bachpatenschaften’ (“adopt a brook“) lead citizens of different ages to feel more familiar with their place of residence. Tasks of Bachpaten vary with personal interest and the specific stretch of water with in-stream restoration as main activity. In the Borough of Wandsbek more than 80 Bachpatenschaften exist. More than 800 individuals from pupils to the elderly feel responsible for their ‘brook on the doorstep’.

Structures like pool-riffle-sequences and meandering of the watercourse have been re-established successfully. After brook improvement work the documented species change from ubiquitous invertebrates to indicator organisms of lively running waters like mayflies and caddisflies is a real reward for the participating citizens. Rheophilic species like Ancylus fluviatilis and Gammarus sp. are thriving in higher abundance than in the beginning of the project. Self reproducing stocks of brown trout, stone loach and brook lamprey are to be stated, now. Since 2004 – for the first time ever in Wandse Beck recorded – (re-?)appearing specialists of turbulent streams like the highly endangered caddis flies Hydropsyche saxonica und Tinodes pallidulus are a rewarding aspect of the in-stream habitat improvements.

The river and its biota, the participating citizens, all inhabitants of the area and other visitors of these watercourses, mainly situated in parks, engaged people especially of lowland areas willing to improve their brooks.

The main resource is the willingness of citizens to engage in brook restoration. Crucial was the good knowledge of the project manager and success in gaining funding for bigger parts like restoring weirs to riffles. Acceptance, not only for the process but for the goal, is a crucial topic, too.

Bezirksamt Wandsbek (Regional Administration)
Dr. Ludwig Tent, tel. +49 40 428 81 2658

01/05/2000

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Environmental sustainability