North Sea Skills Integration and New Technologies

Speaking a multi disciplinary language to integrate the worlds of spatial planning and water management. Encouraging the implementation of innovative technical and sustainable solutions which have already proved to be successful.

Nature protection area in Hamburg

In Hamburg the river Elbe is divided into two river arms, the “Norderelbe” and the “Süderelbe”. Wilhelmsburg island, the largest river island in Europe, is located between these two river arms.. On the island, one can find the nature protection area called “Heuckenlock” which hosts one of the last tidal flood plain forests and a fresh water mud flat.

Heuckenlock is situated outside Hamburg’s flood protected grounds; flash floods and storm floods regularly affect an area of approx. 3 km length and 100 hectar of land.

The protection and the conservation of surface water are key issues for the City of Hamburg. Particularly in Wilhelmsburg, one of the poorest quarters of Hamburg with a high number of immigrants, the integration of environmental protection and water management into urban planning is of great importance. A growing population on the island, increasing noise and dwindling green space affect the quality of life for Wilhelmsburg’s inhabitants. Moreover, due to dredging and drainage of large areas for construction projects only 25% of natural floodplains have been preserved. Wilhelmsburg therefore is at risk from flooding particularly during heavy rainfall and storm events.

Past projects have already analysed the impacts of general changes concerning the overall river Elbe. The SKINT project will offer new ways to demonstrate, how environmental protection and the sustainable management of urban waters may be integrated into the urban planning schemes of this specific, sensitive area to meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Furthermore, conflicting uses are analysed in the context of the preservation of surface waters in Wilhelmsburg and in the nature protection area Heuckenlock in particular.

Contact:
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Life Sciences
Research and Transfer Centre
»Applications of Life Sciences«

Prof. Dr. (mult.) Dr. h.c. (mult.) Walter Leal
Natalie Fischer, Franziska Mannke,
Johanna Vogt

Lohbruegger Kirchstr. 65
D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-6324
Fax: + 49.40.428 75-6079
E-Mail: skint@ls.haw-hamburg.de
www.skint-hamburg.de