Fischwanderhilfe Ottensheim-Wilhering

At the beginning of 2015, VERBUND began construction of Austria's longest fish migration aid to date at the Ottensheim-Wilhering power plant: a 14.2 kilometre-long bypass arm was built across the Innbach-Aschach channel with a seasonally adapted water allocation by the Danube and the natural discharge dynamics of the tributaries. This bypass channel best fulfils the high ecological and technical requirements for fish passability. In addition, the near-natural design of the structure with depressions (pools), fords and bays creates additional habitats for fish and other animals.

The intake structure is located on the right bank of the Danube at the root of the Ottensheim-Wilhering power station at river kilometre 2158.4. In order to ensure that the water flow corresponds to the ecological conditions, it was equipped with a dotation structure with closable flaps. The bypass arm integrates sections of the Brandstätter Arm, the Aschach diversion channel and the Innbach. Together with the "Stauwurzel Kraftwerk Abwinden-Asten" side arm module, a unique habitat network of this size and quality is being created for the Danube in Austria.