Flood protection on the Murg

Rastatt is making every effort to achieve hundred-year flood protection along the Murg River in the city area - experts call this HQ100. This refers to a flood event that statistically occurs every 100 years. This is also referred to as a flood of the century or a flood of the century.

What has happened so far?

In the course of the Murg Rastatt flood protection and ecology project (HÖP Rastatt for short), which was completed in 2014, the Murg foreland between Franzbrücke and Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke was removed by up to 60 centimeters so that more water can flow away. At the same time, near-natural bank areas were created. In addition, 57 hectares of the former Murg floodplain in the Große Brufert and Kleine Brufert districts in the north of the city were reactivated by relocating the flood embankments and branching off the riverbed. This also created valuable habitat for animals and plants.

What's next?

In order to achieve hundred-year flood protection, several dam areas in the city area must be raised and reinforced. In addition, the renaturation of the Murg between the highway and railroad bridges is pending. The award of all specialist planning contracts by the city of Rastatt is scheduled to take place by April 2023. Surveys for protected species are expected to begin as early as March 2023.

When will the work be completed?

The project planning can probably be submitted to the responsible water authority (Rastatt District Office) towards the end of 2025. However, no information can be provided at present on the actual timing of the permit application and the duration of the approval process.

The project area includes four sections:

Lock bridge (closing bridge) to Rheinau bridge

Between Stauschleusenbrücke and Rheinauer Brücke, the embankments have to be partially raised and reinforced.

Murg course in the city center

In the city center, bank walls, sheet pile walls and other technical solutions are the focus of planning due to the limited space available. The Murg embankment must be raised in several places. In addition, there is an opportunity to redesign recreational areas on the embankments and to provide access to the water at various points.

Niederbühler Bridge to Franz Bridge

Between Niederbühler Bridge and Franz Bridge, the Murg embankments have to be reinforced and raised. In addition, so-called dam defense paths are planned that can be driven on. In addition, the renaturation of the Murg is planned.

Freeway bridge to Niederbühler bridge

In the area between the highway bridge and the Niederbühler bridge, the renaturation of the Murg is pending.

Flood protection on the Rhine

High priority is also given to flood protection on the Rhine. The state of Baden-Württemberg is planning to reinforce the Rhine flood protection dam XXIII from the Wintersdorf bridge to where the Murg flows into the Rhine. Investigations into the possible relocation of the dam are also scheduled to run until the end of February 2023.

In some short dam sections, however, there was a need for short-term action. In October 2022, for example, the Rhine embankment south of Plittersdorf was stabilized by backfilling. Sheet piling will still be installed in the area of the mouth of the Murg River until March 2023 to secure the left wing dam.