Hochwasserschutz mit Fluch und Segen: Bayerns größtes Überschwemmungsgebiet | BR24 vor Ort

Bavaria's largest natural floodplain on the Swabian Danube helps Regensburg and Passau, but places a burden on local farmers. The "Riedstrom" is Bavaria's largest natural floodplain. When the Swabian Danube experiences severe flooding, the river water first flows over the dams near Lauingen and then finds its way through the sparsely populated Donauried. Millions of cubic meters of water gradually flow out of the canalized Danube, thus capping the flood peak. Downstream towns such as Neuburg, Ingolstadt, Regensburg, and even Passau benefit from these retained water masses in Swabia, and the rise in the Danube's water level is dampened. This is because the water of the Riedstrom flows broadly and very slowly, returning to the Danube about 30 kilometers later, days later, at Donauwörth. The water follows the channels and hollows it has always followed since before the Danube was straightened. However, the burden falls on the farmers whose fields and meadows are flooded by the water from the Riedstrom, sometimes remaining there for long periods. The result: cabbage heads rot, potato plants die, and grain drowns. The Riedstrom: Bavaria's largest natural flood protection system works, but is becoming a nightmare for local farmers. How can the different interests be balanced against each other, and how can a fair balance be found at a time when severe flooding is becoming increasingly common? ``` Author: Judith Zacher More on the topic: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/... Click here to visit our BR24 website: http://www.BR24.de BR24 newsletter - subscribe here: http://br24.de/newsletter BR24 Facebook:   / br24   BR24 Twitter:   / br24   BR24 Instagram:   / br24