Sennebach is blossoming: Gütersloh district restores natural jewel!

Sennebach is blossoming: Gütersloh district restores natural jewel!

As part of a significant renaturation project, the Sennebach in the town of Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock was restored to its natural state. Property owner Margret Fromme played a central role by making the necessary space available. The measure, led by hydraulic engineer Oliver Juhnke and supported by the Leifels engineering office, shows the commitment to ecological water protection.

Before the renaturation, the Sennebach was channeled through a bank wall and arborvitae, which led to an unnatural narrowing. The stream now flows over a width of up to ten meters and has enough space to operate in heavy rain and floods. This rethinking is part of the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD), which stipulates that water bodies must be ecologically continuous so that living creatures can migrate unhindered.

Ecological improvements

By using dead wood to direct flow and creating flow-calmed zones, the quality of life in the water has been significantly improved. These areas not only offer protection, but also ideal spawning grounds for fish and insects. Juhnke expressed his hope that he would soon observe trout and dragonflies in the Sennebach, which indicates the successful implementation of the renaturation.

In order to implement the ecological measure, the Grabbe company removed an impressive 500 cubic meters of earth, trees and concrete from the riverbed within a week. In addition, the adjacent area was designed to be close to nature, which not only benefits nature but also offers residents an attractive living space.

The effects of the measures are complex. The Froli company, for example, benefits from the ecopoints created, which serve as compensation areas for future construction projects. Margaret Fromme emphasizes that there are no plans to expand the areas; they will remain green and in harmony with nature. The renatured area is already being used by Froli employees for their lunch breaks, which shows that people value and actively use the return to nature.

The Sennebach rises in the Senne near Augustdorf and runs through Holte-Stukenbrock Castle before turning to Hövelhof and ultimately flowing into the Ems near Rietberg. This revitalization not only brings environmental benefits, but also shows the importance of collaboration between the various departments and the property owners. Juhnke emphasizes that the contact between the environmental department and the owner was crucial in discovering further renaturation potential and initiating more flood protection measures in the future.

The Sennebach renaturation project is a prime example of how collaboration and commitment can achieve positive environmental change, benefiting the environment, local wildlife and people. These activities are central to preserving and expanding the ecological footprint of future generations.

For more information about the background and details of this impressive renaturation measure, take a look www.westfalen-blatt.de.