Living sprat - development of a watercourse and floodplain area

With the "Living Sprotte" project, the town of Schmölln pursued the holistic development of a watercourse and floodplain area in three coordinated sub-projects on behalf of 14 neighboring communities of the Sprotte as part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive:



- Sub-project model project river basin management

- Sprotte water experience trail sub-project

- Sub-projectABM Development of the Sprotte floodplain

Initial situation on the Sprotte:

- Insufficient biological continuity due to many weirs

- obstructed sections of watercourse

- Massive input of soils (silt, nutrients) into the watercourses due to high risk of water erosion in the

catchment area and lack of riparian strips



Cooperation between all communities bordering the Sprotte with the following objectives:

- Conservation and development of the Sprotte floodplain as a landmark structure

- Flood protection: precipitation retention in the area

- Biological continuity and renaturation: improvement of living conditions for plants and animals

- Recreation: Development of the Sprotte floodplain as a recreational area and connecting axis

- Water quality: protection against diffuse inputs, wastewater treatment



Tasks of IPU as project management

- Preparation and monitoring of projects

- Cost control and preparation of the use of funding

- Creation of a catalog of potential compensation measures

- Lobbying, public relations work



Success factors

- Broad participation from the outset

- Consideration of the watercourse as a whole

- Personal commitment from local politicians in the region

- Regular information on the status of work

- Financing of a management

- Strong support from authorities

- Visible results on a small scale