Plötzkau. The Saale oxbow lake known as Zinkenbusch near Plötzkau in the Saale-Wipper municipality will in future be better supplied with fresh water from the Saale. To this end, a dyke to another oxbow lake will be breached in the coming weeks. The aim of the project is to better protect the local flora and fauna and to enhance tourism in the region. The area is part of the Plötzkauer Auenwald, the largest European nature reserve along the Saale. The Saale Cycle Route also runs along the two still separate Saale oxbow lakes. The project will cost around 64,000 euros.
The Lower Saale Valley Nature Park Association is responsible for the project. The association has been committed to the protection, maintenance and development of nature and the landscape in the region since 2007. A key objective is to promote the renaturalisation of watercourse structures, as association chairman Tilo Wechselberger explained at the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony with district administrator Markus Bauer and Plötzkau mayor Peter Rosenhagen a few days ago. "The breakthrough through the dam, which was artificially created decades ago, will prevent water temperatures from rising to such an extent that fish die en masse, especially in the summer months." This will also provide better protection for beavers, otters and other creatures in the nature reserve.
The Salzland district is supporting the project, as District Administrator Markus Bauer said. Accordingly, the district administration is providing 24,000 euros from the Salzlandsparkasse's profit distribution. "In addition to nature conservation, it is important to us that the connection of the two branches of the Saale river enhances the Saale cycle path at this point. People should feel at home in nature here." The District Administrator thanked the association for its commitment to the region. Mayor Peter Rosenhagen also emphasised the importance of the project for flood protection in the region. According to him, the retention areas will be significantly increased. "This is a very important measure for us."
The district administrator also pointed out that the preparations had not been as easy as initially hoped. In the meantime, however, a planning office has proposed a solution that is also financially feasible from the point of view of the authorities and all those involved in the project. Other parties involved in the project include the responsible waterways and shipping authority and the Westliche Fuhne-Ziethe maintenance association. According to Tilo Wechselberger, the work, which will take around a month, will begin as soon as weather conditions allow. The connection will be around three metres wide. The excavated material will remain in the dam area. In addition, new plants will be planted over an area of around 1000 square metres.
The project is also being supported by the Association of German Nature Parks with the help of the Kaufland Climate Fund with the support of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners DE with 40,000 euros. The work is being carried out by the construction company Jaeger Umwelt + Verkehr GmbH + Co KG from Bernburg. Planning support is being provided by KUBENS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH from Leipzig.