Vienna protects itself: New retention basin on the Krärterbach completed!

Vienna protects itself: New retention basin on the Krärterbach completed!

Neuwaldegg, Österreich - On April 24, 2025, a new retention basin on the Herbalbach in Hernals was completed in the 17th Vienna district. This project represents an important measure in the area of ​​flood protection and is part of the continuous expansion measures of the city of Vienna. The Viennese flood protection systems had only passed a stress test in September 2024, which had a 1000-year flood event at the Vienna River. Thanks to the effective flood management, worse things could be prevented, which averted major damage, such as press.wien.gv.at reported.

Smallest streams in the Vienna Forest area, such as the herbal stream, contain a high risk of flood in bad weather. This danger situation was crucial for the construction of a new flood protection wall, which is 100 meters long, as well as setting up a retention basin with a capacity of around 13,000 cubic meters. These measures are intended to protect the Neuwaldegg settlement area and make it possible to break up excess water in heavy rain events in the retention basin.

ecological measures

In the context of the construction work, over 800 new trees and shrubs, mainly domestic species, were planted in the area of ​​the retention basin. The flood protection wall is greened by climbing plants such as ivy and clematis in order to promote the ecological structure of the area. Artificially created retention basins can also form small waters and pools that serve as retreats for rare animals and plants, which supports biodiversity in the region.

In addition to the measures on the herbal stream, flood protection is also expanded along the Vienna River. Large flood rake in the Auhof pool help to hold back rinsed rubbish and prevent it during flood events. Another project on the Vienna River includes the construction of a protective wall of around 350 meters in length between Czedikgasse and Ludwiggasse. These comprehensive efforts are part of a larger flood protection program that aims to adapt to climatic changes and the increase in resilience of urban infrastructures, as in the program from the program Duh presented.