Focus on environmental measures
The river Enns was one of the pilot regions of the EU-funded Austria-wide LIFE-Iris (Integrated River Solutions Austria) project, which supports integrative planning approaches as a new way of ecologically restoring our waters while improving flood protection.
The LIFE. WeNatureEnns project will significantly increase the amount of high quality floodplain habitats available, including hedgerows and meadows, which will benefit a range of birds, fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
In addition to the objectives of the Habitats Directives, the project will support the requirements of the Water Framework Directive to achieve good ecological status. By increasing the water storage capacity of the system, the project will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the Floods Directive.
The project LIFE. WeNature Enns project is a flagship project which, with its large-scale, holistic approach, goes far beyond previous approaches to the restoration of floodplains. The costs are therefore considerable. However, as scientific studies show, such approaches are necessary for floodplain restoration, as small-scale measures generally do not produce the desired results.
The kingfisher (Alcedo Atthis)
The kingfisher is an unmistakable, colourful bird the size of a sparrow with a blue-greenish iridescent upper side and an orange-colored breast and belly. The bill is long and dagger-like. Females can be distinguished from males by the reddish-orange colouration of the underside of the otherwise black bill. The kingfisher has short, reddish-colored legs. The tail is extremely short. Young birds are duller and greener in color. The somewhat sharp call (“tji”) often draws attention to a sitting or flying bird.
Kingfishers are strictly territorial; they remain in their breeding territory all year round, provided they are not forced to move by external factors (especially icing of the water). The eggs are laid on the ground at the widened end of a self-dug, roughly horizontal and 50-90 cm deep tube. Nesting sites are primarily found on the slopes of flowing waters and steep banks (drop-offs) on standing waters, but also on embankments. Kingfishers feed mainly on small freshwater fish and, in summer, also on aquatic insect larvae.
Habitat
fish-rich, naturally flowing waters and still waters
Endangered by
river embankments; boulder protection on river banks; water pollution; destruction of floodplains; intensified pond farming
Protective measures
protection of dynamic floodplains with oxbow lakes; no boulder protection; conservation of intact, undisturbed flowing and still waters; artificial breeding walls
Photo: Christian Ragger
Source: Natura2000, Animal species to be protected
Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
At 16-18 cm in length, the red-backed shrike is the smallest Central European shrike species. Males and females differ significantly in coloration. The adult male has a light pink breast and belly and no banding on the flanks, while the underside of the female is yellowish-white with gray cross-banding.
The red-backed shrike likes to perch and hunt for beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and other insects, which it spears on thorns and pointed twigs. In this way, it builds up a “larder”. It builds its rather large but very well-hidden nest in the shelter of dense thorn bushes. The red-backed shrike is a migratory bird. It returns to its breeding grounds in Styria at the beginning of May.
Habitat
small-parcelled, structurally rich cultivated land with nutrient-poor or vegetation-free grassland and fields, equipped with thorny hedges and copses
Endangered by
removal of hedges and copses; intensive agriculture and forestry; forestation and fertilization of grassland
Protective measures
no forestation of grassland; preservation or partial replanting of thorny, natural hedges and copses
Photo: Christian Ragger
Source: Natura2000, Animal species to be protected
Huchen (Hucho Hucho)
The Huchen is a fish eater. On average, this fish is between 110 and 130 cm long and weighs 10-30 kg. The Huchen reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3 - 5 years for males and 4 - 6 years for females and a length of 60 - 70 cm. During the spawning season in spring (end of March to beginning of May), it often carries out spawning migrations upstream over several kilometers. It spawns in shallow water with a gravelly and stony substrate.
Habitat
clean, larger rivers in the transition area from the grayling to the barbel regions
Endangered by
loss of structurally rich, free-flowing stretches with gravelly areas due to power plants and river regulation; river pollution; input of fine sediment (clogging of the gravel trap system); gravel extraction
Protective Measures
conservation of unobstructed stretches of water; construction of fish ladders at dams; improvement of water quality; widening of river beds
Photo: Clemens Ratschan
Source: Natura2000, Animal species to be protected
Bullhead (Cottus gobio)
The bullhead leads a nocturnal lifestyle and, if possible, hides under stones and other shelters during the day. Due to its benthic lifestyle, the swim bladder is reduced. Cottus typically moves jerkily along the bottom of the water “hopping”. The juveniles bury themselves up to 1 m deep in the cavity system.
It is a nocturnal demersal fish with a spindle-shaped body, a large, broad head (broad in males, more pointed in females), smooth, scaleless skin and a reduced swim bladder that grows to around 12 to 16 cm long. Their pelvic fins are pectoral.
Habitat
oxygen-rich, coarse gravel streams and mountain lakes
Endangered by
hydropeaking due to hydropower utilization; water pollution; river engineering (loss of structurally rich river beds with gravelly substrates); transverse structures; introduction of fine sediments;
Protective Measures
conservation of natural, structurally rich sections of watercourses with gravelly to stony substrates; watercourse continuity; safeguarding of water quality classes I and I-II; protection against siltation of the gap system
Photo: Clemens Ratschan
Source: Natura2000, Animal species to be protected