Miracle of nature: red feather returns to the Emscher after 100 years!

Miracle of nature: red feather returns to the Emscher after 100 years!

A good news reaches us from the Ruhr area: the red feather, a swarm fish, returns to the waters of North Rhine-Westphalia after more than 100 years. This remarkable return was documented in the Emscher, which was once considered an insurmountable barrier for fish species. A five -meter -high concrete crash at the mouth of the Emscher into the Rhine prevented the fish from getting through for a long time. But thanks to the gentle redesign of the Emscher by the Emscher cooperative, this "fish-rear road" is now becoming a lifeline for numerous species.

The Emscher was biologically dead for almost a century and served mainly as a sewage. However, this dreary era seems to belong to the past. Since the end of 2021, no waste water has been flowing openly into the Emscher, and the introduction of modern sewage treatment plants has significantly improved the qualities of the water, so that there are now clean, natural sections. According to the Emscher cooperative, more than 30 types of fish have now settled in the Emscher, which underlines the return of the red feather as a sign of a relaxing nature, how RuHR24 reported.

Successful renaturation of the river

After decades of efforts, it has been possible to redesign the last almost 500 meters of the Emscher, which contributes to a noticeable return of life in the river. The renaturation of these formerly heavily soiled water sections is considered extremely successful, especially in the areas of Dinslaken and Voerde. The Emscher, which was once referred to as the "Köttelbecke", now offers fish travel freedom instead of the previous fish-hostile conditions.

The redesign was a lengthy process that took over 30 years. The experts from the Emschergenossenschaft find that the red feather was able to settle and even multiply over the mouth of the Rhine in the Emscher. However, the possibility that fish has been illegally suspended is also discussed, since this could potentially disturb the domestic ecosystems, as [wdr] (https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/ruhr area/wieder-rotfedern-in-der-emscher-100.html) notes.

a model for the future

This initiative shows how important renaturation projects are for biological diversity and the improvement of ecological conditions. A platform provided by the Federal Environment Agency supports actors in the flow water restoration. These projects not only contribute to the increase in the quality of life in the city and country, but also help to reduce flooding and create habitats for numerous animal and plant species, as can be read on Federal Environmental Office

With over 90 % of German rivers that are straightened or piped, the renaturation is a clear step in the right direction. Intact rivers are species -rich ecosystems and have the potential to make a valuable contribution to adapting to climate change. The return of the red feather to the Emscher could not only be seen as a success story, but also as an incentive for further renaturation measures in other regions.