Thriving embankments on the Inn along the German-Austrian border

The Braunau-Simbach power plant is a run-of-river power plant on the Inn and located in the municipalities of Ranshofen (Upper Austria) and Kirchdorf am Inn (Bavaria). The power plant was built between 1951 and 1954. The Kirchdorf embankment is located to the southeast of the town of Kirchdorf am Inn and extends upstream with a length of 4.7 km from the gravel store at Gstetten to the Inn power plant at Braunau-Simbach.

Habitats and species that were once typical for (dry) sparse sand and gravel habitats are today limited to secondary habitat locations like the flood protection embankments. This embankment therefore represents a big opportunity for developing the species-rich meadows and drygrass areas of European importance. The embankment along the dam of the Braunau-Simbach power plant is 26 km long and has the potential for the development of high-quality, species-rich meadows for xerophilic vegetation and fauna.

By reducing or removing trees and shrubs, the existing vegetation has been transformed into grassland habitats. In accordance with the management plan, a raft of measures was implemented. Not all trees or shrubs were removed. Small groups of trees/shrubs were left on the meadow or transplanted to serve as places of retreat for insects and reptiles or for birds as nesting and hunting structures.

Initial mowing of existing grassland removes alien species or other dominant but unfavourable species of plant and nutrients in the soil. This is done by removing the cut-down and dried-out plants. In accordance with the management plans, this was done in a mosaic of land parcels depending on the situation and condition of the habitat.

The Ering-Frauenstein power plant is a run-of-river power plant on the Inn and lies on the border between Austria and Germany. A pedestrian bridge connects the two countries. The power plant was put into operation in 1943.

Habitats and species that were once typical for (dry) sparse sand and gravel habitats are today limited to secondary habitat locations like the flood protection embankments. This embankment therefore represents a big opportunity for developing the species-rich meadows and drygrass areas of European importance. The embankment along the dam of the Ering-Frauenstein power plant is 18 km long and has the potential for the development of high-quality, species-rich meadows for xerophilic vegetation and fauna.

By reducing or removing trees and shrubs, the existing vegetation has been transformed into grassland habitats. In accordance with the management plan, a raft of measures was implemented. Not all trees or shrubs were removed. Small groups of trees/shrubs were left on the meadow or transplanted to serve as places of retreat for insects and reptiles or for birds as nesting and hunting structures.

Initial mowing of existing grassland removes alien species or other dominant but unfavourable species of plant and nutrients in the soil. This is done by removing the cut-down and dried-out plants. In accordance with the management plans, this was done in a mosaic of land parcels depending on the situation and condition of the habitat.

The Egglfing-Obernberg power plant on the Inn lies on the border between Austria and Bavaria and was put into operation in 1944.

Habitats and species that were once typical for (dry) sparse sand and gravel habitats are today limited to secondary habitat locations like the flood protection embankments. This embankment therefore represents a big opportunity for developing the species-rich meadows and drygrass areas of European importance. The embankment along the dam of the Egglfing-Obernberg power plant is 18 km long and has the potential for the development of high-quality, species-rich meadows for xerophilic vegetation and fauna.

By reducing or removing trees and shrubs, the existing vegetation has been transformed into grassland habitats. In accordance with the management plan, a raft of measures was implemented. Not all trees or shrubs were removed. Small groups of trees/shrubs were left on the meadow or transplanted to serve as places of retreat for insects and reptiles or for birds as nesting and hunting structures.

Initial mowing of existing grassland removes alien species or other dominant but unfavourable species of plant and nutrients in the soil. This is done by removing the cut-down and dried-out plants. In accordance with the management plans, this was done in a mosaic of land parcels depending on the situation and condition of the habitat.

The Schärding-Neuhaus power plant is a run-of-river power plant on the Inn and located in the municipalities of Schärding in Upper Austria and Neuhaus in Bavaria. 

Habitats and species that were once typical for (dry) sparse sand and gravel habitats are today limited to secondary habitat locations like the flood protection embankments. This embankment therefore represents a big opportunity for developing the species-rich meadows and drygrass areas of European importance. The embankment along the dam of the Schärding-Neuhaus power plant is 26 km long and has the potential for the development of high-quality, species-rich meadows for xerophilic vegetation and fauna.

By reducing or removing trees and shrubs, the existing vegetation has been transformed into grassland habitats. In accordance with the management plan, a raft of measures was implemented. Not all trees or shrubs were removed. Small groups of trees/shrubs were left on the meadow or transplanted to serve as places of retreat for insects and reptiles or for birds as nesting and hunting structures.

Initial mowing of existing grassland removes alien species or other dominant but unfavourable species of plant and nutrients in the soil. This is done by removing the cut-down and dried-out plants. In accordance with the management plans, this was done in a mosaic of land parcels depending on the situation and condition of the habitat.