Lower Havel Floodplain Moderation

Client: Ministry of Rural Development, Environment and Agriculture of the Federal State of Brandenburg
Period: 2009
Dimension: 18.700 ha
Location: Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt

The Lower Havel Floodplain Waterway Buffer Project in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt stands as Europe’s largest river restoration initiative. This pioneering German project demonstrates how river restoration and flood protection can complement each other along federal waterways. It supports both EU Water Framework Directive and Habitat Directive goals whilst boosting regional development. The project aims to achieve the following main objectives:

1.) ecological improvement of the Lower Havel Floodplain to protect and develop the characteristic and floodplain-specific communities, structures, and functions, as well as to secure the retention potentials of the Havel floodplain in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt
2.) near-natural development shaped by biotope-guiding measures and fluvial dynamics in the lower reach of the Havel and within the present-day floodplain, including improvements in the watercourse structure, reduction of the discharge profile, and more frequent and longer overflows of the Havel into the floodplain.

The Care and Development Plan for the Lower Havel Floodplain orchestrates conservation measures to minimise conflicts with other stakeholders. It prioritises flood protection requirements and seeks cooperative solutions throughout the implementation process.

Our office received the commission to facilitate external moderation of the Care and Development Plan. This included conducting an acceptance analysis and implementing measures to foster public support. We engaged all key stakeholders and provided strategic guidance throughout the planning process to ensure both internal and external acceptance of the Care and Development Plan. Our role focused on enhancing communication between participants, identifying potential conflicts early, and developing effective solutions.

The project achieved remarkable success, resolving all fundamental concerns. Both planning participants and local authorities have endorsed the priority measures, with municipalities formally approving them through official resolutions.