Selz - Environmental Restoration

Environmental Restoration

Some decades of the 20th century were characterized by river straightening throughout the rivers and creeks in Germany. Due to this river training in the years between 1958–1963, the Selz creek is constricted between embankments and flows relative meandering through the plain, between the famous rolling hills of Rheinhessen. In order to stop river bed degradation and to improve both, biodiversity and flood protection, the local nature conservation foundation (Selztalverband) and the district Mainz-Bingen managed a revitalization of the Selz over a notale length between Hahnheim, Undenheim and Sörgenloch.

Loss of floodplain and shorter river reaches caused higher flood peaks and risk of flood in the past. Some floods near disaster were the reason for a restoration concept. The concept contains flood protection, river bed stabilization and renaturation measures. The main objectives are:

• flood protection for HQ100
• improvement of the ecological situation
• stabilizing river bed/erosion control
• stabilizing groundwater level

Floodplains have been increased between 50 to 100 meter width. Nature is allowed to develop undisturbed in biotopes, which protect and promote the biodiversity of the landscape with its meadows, trenches, bank slopes, marsh areas, wetland, phragmites, willows, hedges and boundary ridges. During the past 25 years, the village of Hahnheim has planted 27000 trees and hedges along the Selz in its boundary.

Since the Selz renaturation project covers several miles of the Selz River's bank, it is increasing the total length of the river.