On 1 October, viadonau and Nationalpark Donau-Auen officially launched one of the most ambitious river restoration projects ever carried out on the Austrian Danube: the revitalisation of Schwalbeninsel near Stopfenreuth in Lower Austria.
Stretching for around three kilometres, this project represents the largest continuous riverbank restoration on the Danube to date. By removing hard stone reinforcements and opening up regulating structures, a natural, richly structured riverbank will once again take shape. The result will be a lively, dynamic side arm system with well-circulated, wave-protected backwaters, which represents a true paradise for fish, birds, and rare floodplain forests.
The project area lies in the Donau-Auen National Park, one of the last two free-flowing stretches of the Danube in Austria, in the Stopfenreuther Au and opposite Petronell-Carnuntum. This unique section of river still has the power to shape its own landscape and Schwalbeninsel, one of the last near-natural WILDislands in this Danube section is facing disappearing due to sedimentation and lack of natural river dynamics.
“This project is another milestone in ecological river engineering. Our goal is to allow the Danube and its floodplains to develop as naturally as possible. Many protected species — from white-tailed eagles to black poplars — will benefit. Islands are jewels of the river landscape, and together with viadonau we are ensuring Schwalbeninsel has a future,”
said National Park Director Edith Klauser.
viadonau Managing Director Hans-Peter Hasenbichler added:
“The Danube between Vienna and Bratislava is one of only two remaining free-flowing stretches in Austria. Here the river still has the power to actively create habitats. With the measures on Schwalbeninsel, we are helping the Danube to restore one of its most precious natural treasures as part of LIFE WILDisland.”
The start of works was marked with a field visit attended by representatives from Fischereirevierverband II and the Lower Austria Fishereirevierverband, which are co-funding the measure, as well as regional authorities, municipalities, Austrian Federal Forests, our partners from VERBUND AG, the Port of Vienna, local contractors, and partners. During the event, Elena Kmetova-Biro (Nationalpark Donau-Auen) presented the LIFE WILDisland project, while Ursula Scheiblechner (viadonau) introduced the specific measures now being implemented.
With this initiative, Schwalbeninsel will once again become a vibrant ecological stepping stone, connecting habitats along the Danube and securing a lasting home for species and landscapes of European importance.
Photo credit: C. Gillmann
