The picture shows a dark blue river in the middle, which flows through a densely overgrown forest. The forest is on the left and right, with the right side illuminated by the sun and glowing. On the left, a large tree stands out, casting a shadow on the river and creating the dark blue. A little further downstream, a tree trunk lies across the river. The densely overgrown forest on either side is bursting with shrubs and meadows in various shades of light and dark green. The trees stand tall and are also various shades of green.

Overview of the
ecological measures

Strengthening ecology: LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn

VERBUND and its partners are implementing measures in the LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn project on Austrian and Bavarian stretches of the Danube and Inn rivers. The planned LIFE project aims to connect valuable habitats along the Inn and Danube and to improve habitat conditions within the Natura 2000 areas. The benefits for the ecology of the Inn and Danube through LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn range from the networking of existing habitats to the creation of new ones.

Fish migration aids and renaturalisation

LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn builds on existing restoration projects on the Danube and Inn. The Jochenstein and Schärding-Neuhaus power plants will receive bypass rivers. The Ybbs-Persenbeug and Aschach power plants on the Danube will receive smaller bypasses. The Passau-Ingling power station will be made passable for fish by means of a slotted pass. Near-natural bank structures and targeted desedimentation in the reservoirs further improve the ecological conditions along the Inn and Danube.

The images of a map on which the LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn measures are marked. The Schärding-Neuhaus and Passau-Ingling power plants, where fish migration aids are planned, are shown on the Inn. For the Danube, the Jochenstein and Aschach Ottensheim-Wilhering power plants are shown first, where fish migration aids are also planned. Further downstream, the renaturalisation of the Marktau and the Ybbser Scheibe are planned. Finally, a fish migration aid is also to be built at the Ybbs-Persenbeug Danube power station.

Fish passes on the Inn and riverbank restructuring

VERBUND invests in fish migration aids and ecological measures such as bank structuring. This is intended to ensure the biodiversity of animals and plants in the future. To this end, we work closely with our stakeholders. 

Fish pass Schärding

Fischwanderhilfe Schärding
The picture shows an aerial view of the Schärding-Neuhaus hydropower plant. The power station and the blue-green Danube can be seen in the centre. On the right-hand side of the picture you can see forest and behind the power station you can see the town of Schärding and the landscape with a bright blue sky.

Fish pass Passau-Ingling

Fischwanderhilfe Passau-Ingling
The picture shows an aerial view of the Passau-Inglings power station from the downstream side. The Inn is blue-green and therefore stands out strongly against the light and dark green meadows and forests to the left and right of the river. The course of the Inn can still be seen in the background, with forest and blue sky behind it.

Bank structures Danube and Inn

Ufer Donau und Inn
The picture shows an aerial view of the Passau-Inglings power station from the downstream side. The Inn is blue-green and therefore stands out strongly against the light and dark green meadows and forests to the left and right of the river. The course of the Inn can still be seen in the background, with forest and blue sky behind it.

Fish passes on the Danube

Thanks to numerous restoration projects in recent years, a number of natural fish migration aids have been built on the Danube. State-of-the-art technology and the know-how of our partners were always used. To ensure the success of the ecological measures. 

Fish pass Aschach

Fish Pass Aschach
The Aschach power station can be seen from the downstream side on a beautiful summer's day. On the left you can see rocks and green trees above. In front of the power station you can see the greenish Danube flowing downstream. To the right of the power station you can see dark green forests and behind the power station you can see a bright blue sky.

Fish pass Ybbs-Persenbeug

Fish pass Ybbs-Persenbeug
In the picture, the Ybbs-Persenbeug Danube power station is visible from the air from the downstream side. While the beautiful landscape with many forests and the course of the dark blue Danube can be seen in the background, the village of Persenbeug shines in the sunshine on the right. In the background you can still see the blue sky above the landscape.

Fish pass Jochenstein

Fish pass Jochenstein
The Jochenstein power station can be seen from the air on a sunny day. While the Danube is coloured green-blue, the trees on the banks to the left and right are a lush dark green. While the weir fields can be seen on the left, the lock for shipping can be seen on the right. In the background you can still see the landscape and the course of the Danube upstream.

How to make a power station passable

The two most commonly used types of fish migration aid are a near-natural bypass or a technical solution with artificial pools. Sometimes the two methods are combined. At LIFE Blue Belt Danube Inn, both near-natural bypasses and so-called "slot passes" are built. This depends on the type of power plant and the space available. Bypasses are generally favoured as they provide additional habitat for fish and other animals.

Read more
The picture shows a graphic that explains how various fish migration aids work. At the top you can see how the water flows into a near-natural section before the power station. In the area of the power station, where there is a difference in height before and after the power station, vertical sections have been created for fish, where pools have been set up for recreation in order to make the descent and ascent as gentle as possible for fish. The lower section shows how the fish migration aid flows back into the river.

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