Life Riverscape Lower Tender

Duration 01-SEP-2020 to 31-AUG -2028Total budget 24539788.00 EU contribution 8239396.00 Project descriptionBackgroundThe project is located at the border between Germany and Austria in the SACs Salzach und Unterer Inn DE7744371 Unterer Inn AT3105000 and Auwlder am unteren Inn AT3119000 as well as in the SPAs Salzach und Inn DE7744471 and Unterer Inn AT3105000. The site comprises a heavily altered river-floodplain system with several specific attributes that give it a high conservation value but also pose challenges for its management The area is one of the most important breeding resting and wintering areasin Central Europe with over 130 proven breeding bird species The Inn river provides habitat for several protected fish species Key fluvial habitats for the rheophilic fish fauna are largely missing Two hydropower plants pose a barrier for fish and other aquatic organisms Habitats and species once typical for dry barren sand- and gravel habitats are limited to secondary habitat-sites such as the flood protection dykes Riparian forests 91E0 are over-aged due to missing rejuvenation many stocks are dominated by allochthonous trees and shrubsand Many small aquatic waters have disappeared over the past few decades due to siltation and terrestrialisation having an adverse impact on amphibian and other fauna and flora of temporary water bodies and Human uses such as recreation fishing and hunting may disturb the breeding birds. Objectives The LIFE Riverscape Lower Inn project aims to improve site-specific habitats and their connectivity in one of the largest coherent river-floodplain systems of the River Inn. The complex framework conditions call for a systemic large-scale approach to secure the ecological value of the site over the long term. The project has thus been designed as part of a comprehensive management strategy for the River Inn its floodplains and the dam system. The measures also complement previously realised projects in the impoundments of the hydropower plants Ering and Egglfing as well as previous LIFE projects. Additional to the objectives listed in the FFH and Bird Directives the project will help to meet the requirements of the Ramsar Convention and the Water Framework Directive. Measures will help achieve good ecological potential and good ecological status as specified in the River Management Plans. Specifically the project aims to Improve habitat conditions and conservation status for breeding resting and wintering bird species including Alcedo atthis Nycticorax nycticorax and all species of waders and waterfowl Improve habitat conditions and conservation status for the endangered rheophilic fish guild including Hucho hucho Romanogobio uranoscopus R. vladykovi and L.souffia agassizi Improve habitat conditions and conservation status for the typical wetland fauna and flora incl