Lake in Kinzigtal dam still no sign of new damming
A small reservoir has already formed again in front of the recently repaired Kinzig dam over the past few days. "We've had constant and sometimes very heavy rainfall in the region recently," explained Holger Scheffler, Managing Director of the Kinzig Water Association, which operates the facility. "In addition, the meadows in front of the dam are completely saturated, which has of course noticeably increased the surface runoff of the rivers and thus also led to the rise in water in the dam."
However, he clarified that the recent rise in water levels had nothing to do with the planned re-damming of the Kinzig after the end of the restoration work. "This is normal flood protection for the people in the Kinzig valley, as we have always maintained during the entire renovation work."
According to Scheffler, the Darmstadt Regional Council, as the supervisory authority, will decide when exactly the scheduled damming of the river will begin. The water association has set a target date of Christmas.
During the repair work that began in September 2022, the entire concrete surfaces and joints of the dam, which was built between 1976 and 1979, were inspected, renovated and in some cases extensively renewed for the first time. The reason for this was the legally prescribed "in-depth safety inspection". To this end, the water was drained from the reservoir and the fish in it were relocated. The last major renovation phase was completed at the beginning of November with the installation of the third and final new weir flap.
The reservoir is intended to slow down flood waves from the river and thus protect the Kinzig valley as far as Hanau. The reservoir also serves to ensure that the Kinzig below the structure is still supplied with water during the dry summer months.
The heavy rainfall and saturated meadows have significantly increased the surface runoff of rivers, causing the water level in the dam to rise. This rise in water level is essential for the flood protection of the Kinzig valley, demonstrating the vital role of water in preserving the environment.
Source: www.dpa.com
