Case study:Conservation strategies for forest and wild river in Gesaeuse: the Johnsbach Beck restoration

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Location: 47° 34' 37.01" N, 14° 35' 20.30" E

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life.php?navid=102
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Monitoring, Social benefits
Country	Austria
Main contact forename	Daniel
Main contact surname	Kreiner
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Gesäuse National Park
Contact organisation web site	http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life.php
Partner organisations
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects

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Project summary

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The River Johnsbach, a tributary to the River Enns, was heavily regulated and deprived of biological and hydromorphological diversity. Of particular concern was the inability of fishes to overcome the high concrete structures and the spawning habitat shortage all along the river corridor. Part of the LIFE+ multi-site project for the restoration of the River Enns and its surrounding ecosystems was delivered in the Johnsbach Brook. The works targeted a stretch of several kilometres, were bank reinforcement structures were take-off and the mouth of the river was ecologically enhanced (i.e. gravel banks, etc.). Restoration outcomes are positive overall. In particular, fish are now able to migrate and greater habitat diversity significantly supports in-site species populations (i.e. Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)). However there is still a technical problem related with the adjustment of the river slope and the high steps imposed by old sills. There is a deficit of dynamic gravel resulting from the long-lasting excavation in the Johnsbach valle. Overtime, changing erosion processes as well as variable flooding will continually modify the site while the river network is regaining its natural functionality.

The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Daniel Kreiner from the Gesäuse National Park for providing the information and photographs for this case study.

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Catchment and subcatchment

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Site

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Name
WFD water body codes
WFD (national) typology
WFD water body name
Pre-project morphology
Reference morphology
Desired post project morphology
Heavily modified water body	No
National/international site designation	Austria - Nationalpark
Local/regional site designations	Natura 2000, National Park
Protected species present	Yes
Invasive species present	Yes
Species of interest	Alcedo atthis, Bombina variegata, Bonasa bonasia, Cottus gobio, Cypripedium calceolus, Dendrocopos leucotos, Eudontomyzon spp., Ficedula parva, Leuciscus souffia, Lutra lutra, Picoides tridactylus, Picus canus, Rosalia alpina, Tetrao tetrix tetrix, Tetrao urogallus
Dominant hydrology
Dominant substrate
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Average bankfull channel width (m)
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Project background

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Reach length directly affected (m)
Project started	2005/02/01
Works started
Works completed
Project completed	2011/08/01
Total cost category
Total cost (k€)	2,363.2062,363.206 k€ <br />2,363,206 € <br />
Benefit to cost ratio
Funding sources	EU LIFE III

Cost for project phases

Phase	cost category	cost exact (k€)	Lead organisation	Contact forename	Contact surname
Investigation and design
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Works and works supervision
Post-project management and maintenance
Monitoring

Supplementary funding information

Total budget 2,363,206.00 € EU contribution 1,181,603.00 €

Reasons for river restoration

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Mitigation of a pressure	Regulation of water courses, intensive forestry practices, tourism, traffic
Hydromorphology
Biology
Physico-chemical
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Measures

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Structural measures
Bank/bed modifications	Bank reinforcement structures removed, Gravel banks reintroduced
Floodplain / River corridor
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Non-structural measures
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Monitoring

Hydromorphological quality elements

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quality elements

Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
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Biological quality elements

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quality elements

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Monitoring documents

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Image gallery

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Additional documents and videos

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Additional links and references

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Link	Description
http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life-gewaesser-johnsbach.php	Gesäuse National Park (2008) Revitalisierung "Johnsbach" 2006-2010 (Partnerprojekt)
http://http://www.nationalpark.co.at/nationalpark/de/life.ph	Life-Project: Conservation strategies for forest and wild river in Gesaeuse

Supplementary Information

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