1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Augsburg
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Projekt „Wertach Vital“
Short description of the intervention
Wertach Vital is a project to reconstitute the Wertach river between the southern Augsburg limits and its confluence with the river Lech. Starting from the south, the flood protection has been improved, the depth of the river bottom has been halted, the river bed has been expanded and the banks have been upgraded as a recreational area. A major part of the measures has been completed. The project is supported by the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Augsburg, co-financed by the EU (Ref. 1).
Address

Augsburg
Germany

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (10.829954014652 48.289666132457)
POINT (10.835294005714 48.288186020803)
POINT (10.863426791711 48.349118628257)
POINT (10.856906537448 48.345592553639)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Earth Pro (November 5, 2020). Coordinates offer a rough approximation of extent of riverbed.
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Website of the intervention
http://www.wwa-don.bayern.de/hochwasser/hochwasserschutzprojekte/wertachvital/u…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
1999
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2000
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
1. To protect the Augsburg area from flooding (Ref. 2)
2. Regeneration of the natural habitats along the river (Ref. 2)
3. Development of a more natural river landscape (Ref. 2)
4. Provision of barrier-free passage of fish and other aquatic creatures along the river (Ref. 2)
5. New recreational facilities for citizens along the river Wertach (Ref. 3)
6. Improve the water quality in the city (Ref. 3)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Level of the river decreased in meters (Ref. 2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Implementation activities
1. Initial flood protection measures implemented in the residential areas (Ref. 3)
2. The local railway bridge and the Luitpoldbrücke in Pfersee were built without an outflow-disturbing center pillar (Ref. 3)
3. Gravel banks in the waterfront areas are installed (Ref. 3)
4. The initial construction measures made the river banks accessible and attractive for the residents (Ref. 3)
5. Habitat protective directives applied to the river areas (Ref. 3)
Type of NBS project
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Green corridors and green belts
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Leisure time activities are of central importance in this section due to its location. With bank exits, a seating area and paths along the bank, those seeking relaxation have the opportunity to experience the water (Ref. 2).
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Researchers, university
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
1. Co-planning measures were implemented during the planning process: citizens could evaluate, critique and complement the project proposal (Ref. 2)
2. The project was planned in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the Federation for Bird Protection, the Lechallianz, the Natural History Association of Augsburg (Ref. 7)
Key actors - initiating organization
Regional government
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
EU body
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
European Water Framework Directive (WFD) defined the actions of Water Management Office Donauwörth (Wasserwirtschaftsamt Donauwörth) who were leading the project (Ref. 2).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The project „Wertach Vital“ is a long-term city-level urban development program (Ref. 2).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
City-level urban development program „Wertach Vital“ aimed at improvement of the ecological conditions of the Wertach river and protect the city from flooding (Ref. 2).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Water regulation strategy
Urban redevelopment plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project is co-financed by the EU, the region of Bavaria, and the city of Augsburg (Ref. 6).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
30 000 000 EUR
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The redevelopment of the Wertach in a section of about 15 kilometers between Inningen and the Lech estuary in the north of Augsburg is expected to cost around 30 million euros (Ref. 4).
Source(s) of funding
EU funds
Public regional budget
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Risk reduction model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Unknown
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Description of environmental benefits
Water management and blue areas:
-Improved water quality/Increased protection against flooding/Improved stormwater management/Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems: Initial flood protection measures implemented in the residential areas (Ref. 3). The local railway bridge and the Luitpoldbrücke in Pfersee were built without an outflow-disturbing center pillar (Ref. 3). Gravel banks in the waterfront areas are installed (Ref. 3). Habitat protective directives applied to the river areas (Ref. 3).

Green space and habitat:
-Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales: "Instead of weirs, bed ramps were built - gently sloping river sections that are comparable to rapids and are protected from being washed out with large stones. Such near-natural structures can be overcome by fish" (Ref. 4).
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: a riverside path was created (Ref. 2). Construction measures made the river banks accessible and attractive for the residents (Ref. 3). "Leisure time activities are of central importance in this section due to its location. With bank exits, a seating area and paths along the bank, those seeking relaxation have the opportunity to experience the water" (Ref. 2).


Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Level of the river in meters (Ref. 7).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
Water management (SDG 6)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
Yes
Please specify the negative impacts
"The Wertach will soon have a more original face again. Nonetheless, the project sparked violent protests from local residents: a number of trees near the banks had to be cleared to widen the river. The construction work should be completed in early summer 2005. Then the renovation of the Wertach in the approximately 15 kilometer long section between Inningen and the Lech estuary in the north of Augsburg will probably have cost around 30 million euros" (Ref. 4).
COVID-19 pandemic
No specific information available as of November 5, 2020. Augsburg entered a partial second lockdown on October 30, 2020: "Due to the high incidence figures in Augsburg, the nationwide and Bavaria-wide measures in the Augsburg city area have been in effect since Friday, October 30th, 9 p.m. A maximum of 2 households can meet. Catering establishments are only allowed to sell to-go.

In addition, the following three regulations apply in the urban area:
Extended mask requirement in the city area (inner city area, playgrounds, main traffic axes, areas on the Wertach, Kuhsee and Hochablass)
Ban on alcohol consumption from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the entire public space
Retail businesses and public institutions: Disinfectant dispensers must be used at the entrance".
Available at: https://www.augsburg.de/umwelt-soziales/gesundheit/coronavirus/vor-infektionen-schuetzen
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://www.hnd.bayern.de/pegel/donau_bis_kelheim/augsburg-oberhausen-12407000
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
http://www.wwa-don.bayern.de/hochwasser/hochwasserschutzprojekte/wertachvital/u…
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Link to a web-based monitoring tool
http://www.hnd.bayern.de/pegel/donau_bis_kelheim/augsburg-oberhausen-12407000
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Online Forum
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Although the project was aimed at the improvement of the overall environmental conditions in Augsburg, it also triggered some protests of local residents. The reason for the protest was the removal of trees in some areas in order to strengthen brooks' banks (4). Eventually, the city of Augsburg substitute lost trees with the planting of trees in other places (5)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Umweltkompetenzin der Stadt Augsburg
Wertach vital II - Umsetzung
Wertach vital... ...natürlich für Augsburg
Ein neues Gesteinsbett für die Wertach
Wertach (Fluss)
Wertach vital
Wasserstand Augsburg Oberhausen / Wertach
List of references
1. Regio Augsburg Tourism (n.d.). Umweltkompetenzin der Stadt Augsburg. Available at: http://www.augsburg-tourismus.de/tl_files/augsburg_tourismus/broschueren/pdf/augsburger-umweltpfad.pdf (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
2. Donauwörth Water Management Office (2018). Wertach vital II - Umsetzung. Available at: http://www.wwa-don.bayern.de/hochwasser/hochwasserschutzprojekte/wertachvital/umsetzung/wertach_vital_zwei/index.htm (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
3. Donauwörth Water Management Office (2007). Wertach vital...natürlich für Augsburg. Available at: http://www.wwa-don.bayern.de/doc/publikationen/wertachvital_natuerlichfueraugsburg.pdf (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
4. Umwelt and Gesundheit (2004). Ein neues Gesteinsbett für die Wertach. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20070929123544/http://www.br-online.de/umwelt-gesundheit/unserland/umwelt_artenschutz/klima_gewaesser/wertach-renaturierung.shtml (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
5. Wikipedia (2017). Wertach (Fluss). Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wertach_(Fluss) (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
6. Unknown (n.d.). Wertach vital. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20111210082032/http://www.wwa-don.bayern.de/projekte_und_programme/wertach_vital/index.htm (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
7. Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (2020). Wasserstand Augsburg Oberhausen / Wertach. Available at: http://www.hnd.bayern.de/pegel/donau_bis_kelheim/augsburg-oberhausen-12407000 (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
Comments and notes
Public Images
Phase 1 of the Project (2012)
Phase 1 of the Project (2012)
Ralph Neumeier (Chief Officer), retrieved 08/15/2018
Phase 2 of the Project (2018)
Phase 2 of the Project (2018)
Ralph Neumeier (Chief Officer), retrieved 08/15/2018