View of the Danube at Altenwörth under a bright blue sky. The water of the Danube is clear and reflects the sky and clouds.

Chronology of the project
LIFE Network Danube Plus

After two years of construction, the LIFE Network Danube Plus project partners put the new fish bypass at the Altenwörth Danube power plant into operation at a small opening ceremony. With 12.5 kilometers legnth, the new bypass is the longest of its kind in Lower Austria. A total of EUR 14.5 million has been invested in barrier-free access and biodiversity in the vicinity of the Altenwörth and Greifenstein river power plants - EUR 11.5 million of which was invested in the fish migration aid alone. At the end of 2022 the project was officially completed.

Autumn 2025: Immer der Nase nach

Display boards and a children's book explain the fish migration aid at the Altenwörth Danube power plant. Pictures and rhymes convey ecology and biodiversity in a playful way.

Unusual display boards shine out from the autumnal floodplain. On the acrylic glass panels, Viennese artist Paloma Schreiber has portrayed the most important representatives of biodiversity at the old river arm and along the fish migration aid. ‘Companions of all kinds swim through the water garden’ is the motto at the oxbow lake and accompanying waters around the power plant. The short, memorable rhymes characterise the most important flagship species from the LIFE Network Danube Plus project. A child-friendly book combines the rhymes and drawings on the boards and playfully explains the meaning and benefits of renaturation in Altenwörth.

With this installation, the municipality of Kirchberg am Wagram and VERBUND invite visitors to linger and experience the newly revitalised natural landscape. The installation was implemented by Gregori Stanzer, ALLregio.

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The photo shows Werner Brunner (head of Altenwörth and Gigging), Heinz Allmer (works group leader for the Lower Danube), Paloma Schreiber (author and artist), and Franz Aigner (mayor of Kirchberg/Wagram).

2025: Summer excursion to Altenwörth

The fish migration aid at the Altenwörth Danube power plant is the longest of its kind in Lower Austria. The area is particularly popular for swimming trips in summer.

We didn't just think about fish when we were working on the EU LIFE project Network Danube Plus. Insects, amphibians, and birds are also making use of the newly created habitat.

There is also plenty of space for swimming and water sports on the Danube. Biodiversity and nature go hand in hand here.

2025: Spring in Altenwörth

Spring has arrived in the renaturation area around Altenwörth, a success story of the EU project LIFE Network Danube Plus. Lower Austria's longest fish migration aid has carved out a new bed for itself after the floods in September 2024. It did so under its own steam, just as the planners had intended. This is rejuvenating the plant population. Gravel areas that were in danger of becoming overgrown have been cleared or completely refilled.

This is desirable, especially for the little ringed plover. This rare gravel-nesting bird needs open gravel areas for its clutches. It does not build a nest, but lays its eggs – well camouflaged – in the gravel. It needs peace and quiet for the breeding season. This prompts us once again to ask nature lovers and those seeking relaxation along the fish migration aid to be considerate. Therefore: please keep dogs on a leash and hide your Easter baskets in the meadow and not on the riverbank!

LIFE Network Danube Plus project extended (german only)

May 2023

Fish monitoring in Altenwörth

In spring, ecologists begin counting fish in the new fish migration aid in Altenwörth. Work was delayed due to temperature fluctuations and large volumes of water. Nevertheless, 22 Danube fish species have already been identified. In the coming years, 10,000 fish are to be chip-tagged for research purposes.

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In spring, ecologists start counting fish in the new fish migration aid in Altenwörth.

April 2022

Altenwörth fish migration aid opened

The largest single measure in the LIFE Network Danube Plus project has been completed. VERBUND and its project partners opened the Altenwörth fish migration aid in the presence of numerous guests. The 12.5-kilometre-long bypass makes the Danube power plant barrier-free and provides additional habitat along the Danube.

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VERBUND and its project partners opened the Altenwörth fish migration aid in the presence of numerous guests.

Spring 2022

Construction work completed

Construction work on the Altenwörth fish migration aid was completed in spring 2022. The Krems-Kamp channel has already been flooded. The fish migration aid itself is in trial operation and is being filled with Danube water on a trial basis. In summer, when the relaxed Covid-19 situation allows, guided tours of the construction site will be offered again. Fish trap monitoring will start in the fall.

View of the Altenwörth power plant. You can see the bright blue Danube, greenery and the fish migration aid.

August to October 2021

Visit to the construction site

Even before the project was completed, numerous interested parties were able to see the success of the construction work for themselves. The fish migration aid was already flooded on a trial basis in mid-2021. By the end of October, the first delicate successes of the summer could already be seen in the vegetation and the varied course of the river. Although the focus of the renaturation project was on creating a new habitat for fish and other aquatic life, the local population also benefited from improved bathing quality in the oxbow lake and additional recreational space on the Danube.

Even during the renaturation project, numerous interested parties were able to see the success of the construction measures for themselves.

July 2021

Cycle path reopened

The most important construction work on the Altenwörth fish migration aid has largely been completed. VERBUND project manager Hannes Einfalt, together with Mayor Marion Török (Zwentendorf) and Mayor Wolfgang Benedikt (Kirchberg a. Wagram), reopened the new bridge over the oxbow lake to traffic.

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VERBUND project manager Hannes Einfalt opened the new cycle path together with Mayor Marion Török (Zwentendorf) and Mayor Wolfgang Benedikt (Kirchberg a. Wagram).

Spring on the construction site

Progress on the construction site in the area of the Altenwörth fish migration aid will be clearly visible in spring 2021. The project management expects the construction work to be completed as early as next year.

A drone flight over the Danube in bright sunshine. A reddish ship makes its way along the Danube. The resulting fish migration aid can be seen on the left.

A gentle stream is already making its way through grasses and bushes. This body of water is also part of the fish migration aid at the Altenwörth power plant.

Close-up of the fish migration aid. The rough coniferous tree in the water, which in future will provide the fish with protection from natural enemies and a place to rest, is clearly visible.

The drone flight over the Altenwörth power plant shows the construction progress of the fish migration aid, which is located to the right of the power plant. The newly created sandbanks are still clearly visible.

A view from above of the construction sites at the Altenwörth fish migration aid: excavators and heavy goods vehicles are at work. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

The picture clearly illustrates how the new fish migration aid is planned: a meandering river with rough coniferous trees, sandbanks and plenty of greenery on both sides.

March 2021

Management on site visit

In time for the first partial flooding of the Altenwörth fish migration aid, the managing directors of VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH, Karl Heinz Gruber and Michael Amerer, came to see the progress of the project for themselves. Project manager Hannes Einfalt gave a tour of the still dry parts of Lower Austria's longest fish migration aid.

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Karl Heinz Gruber, Managing Director of VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH, visits the project construction site. With Michael Amerer and Hannes Einfalt.

August 2020

Construction site visit in summer

In August, residents from Grafenwörth and the Altenwörth district accepted the invitation to visit the fish migration aid which is currently under construction with great interest. In glorious bathing weather, the project management gave a guided tour of the otherwise inaccessible parts of the large construction site. Questions and concerns could be raised on the spot in direct contact. The enormous dimensions of the new channel and the moving masses of gravel and sediment improved the neighbors' understanding of the necessary barriers.

Residents from Grafenwörth and the Altenwörth district visit the project construction site.

Construction work at the Altenwörth fish migration aid (german only)

March 2020

Start of construction of the Altenwörth fish migration aid

With a length of more than 12.5 kilometers, the planned fish migration aid will be Lower Austria's longest fish migration aid. It connects renaturation projects on the Danube and its tributaries and thus strengthens the Danube's biodiversity. A total of 575,000 cubic meters of gravel and fine sediment will be moved during the work.

In addition to the fish migration aid, VERBUND, as the power plant operator, is working with the market town of Kirchberg am Wagram to improve the bathing quality of the Altenwörth oxbow lake.