LIFE Riverscape Lower Inn

EU-funded ecological development of the riverscape on the Lower Inn

The Lower Inn is a lifeline and shapes the habitat far beyond the riverbanks. In the last 200 years, people have shaped and considerably altered the Inn. Land reclamation, navigability, flood defences and the desire for fixed, invariable borders have contributed significantly to the remodelling of the riverscape. It was only these massive structural changes to the river that later enabled the construction of power plants. In addition to the reliable power supply, they also caused the stabilisation of the riverbed, which eroded more and more due to the increased flow velocity of the Inn. The power plants and their large storage areas are also the reason behind the creation of today’s Lower Inn European conservation area, which is considered to be a paradise for birds.

Power plants

and their surroundings upgraded environmentally

Kilometres of dams

become valuable habitats

Project running time in years

until into 2028

Millions of euros

project volume

Ecological objectives

In the coming years, the project partners in Bavaria and Upper Austria will implement numerous measures for the ecological development of the riverscape on the Lower Inn. These include near-natural bypass waterbodies at the Inn power plants at Braunau-Simbach and Egglfing-Obernberg as well as the creation of further waterbody habitat in the areas around the Inn power plants at Ering-Frauenstein, Egglfing-Obernberg and Schärding-Neuhaus.
Measures in the project LIFE Riverscape Lower Inn
VERBUND CEO Michael Strugl in front of the bypass river at the Ering-Frauenstein power plant

Strong project partners

Michael Strugl, Chairman of the Executive Board at the project sponsor VERBUND: “Once again, we have launched a project on a European scale with which hydropower will become even more sustainable. It makes it possible to retract developments of the centuries-old history of human interventions in river courses and recreate lost habitats. In this way, hydropower becomes part of the solution for climate, ecology and the environment. Our thanks go to the project partners, above all the EU, which is enabling the project with means from the LIFE fund.”
Project partners

Paradiese aus Menschenhand

The broadcaster ARTE has screened a documentary on "Paradiese aus Menschenhand" (paradises wrought by human hand). The measures taken by VERBUND on the Inn once again demonstrate that hydropower, ecology and environmental protection go hand in hand.

ARTE documentary
Project logo LIFE Riverscape Lower Inn

Successful project at Ering-Frauenstein power plant

The project “Continuity and habitat”, implemented by VERBUND at the Ering-Frauenstein power plant, was exemplary and largely responsible for bringing LIFE Riverscape Lower Inn to life.
Folder Ering-Frauenstein