The Bavarian Lech was once a typical pre-alpine wild river that provided dynamic habitats for highly specialized fauna and flora species. Today it is a massively transformed river. Modern man acted as a radical shaper of his environment on the Bavarian Lech and thus transformed the landscape to this day. However, resistance has been stirring for some time and plans for the revitalization of the river have begun.

The research project takes a look at the historical transformation processes of the Bavarian Lech and highlights the problems of current renaturation measures in the Augsburg area. In the past, the Lech was transformed by massive construction measures. Initially, this involved flood protection and the creation of agricultural land and settlement areas, and later energy generation through hydropower. The result was a multitude of ecological problems

At present, several renaturation projects near Augsburg aim to restore the Lech to a more natural state. For example, a LIFE project (L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environnement) called “CONTEMPO2”, which was initiated by Lechwerke AG, a regional hydropower operator, and is 60% funded by the EU, aims to reactivate and connect side waters of the Lech. The project name stands for “controlling temperature and oxygen”. As part of the project, the effects of climate change are to be taken into account and a strategy to strengthen the climate resilience of the watercourse is to be pursued. The hydrological situation on the Lech is characterized by a variety of anthropogenic factors such as cooling water discharges, energy production, damming and changes to the water structure and is being further exacerbated by the advancing climate change. For this reason, the “CONTEMPO2” project is attempting to create habitats in which the water temperature is low and the oxygen content is high in order to provide suitable living conditions for rheophilic species in particular.

As part of the dissertation project, a social science study of the stakeholder landscape at the Lech near Augsburg will be carried out in order to document and analyze the socio-political transformation debates. The aim is to gain a better overview of the inner-ecological field of conflict between climate-friendly hydropower use and nature conservation and to identify possible compromises. In line with the research concept of political ecology, empirical qualitative social research methods will be used to identify and examine stakeholders and their often conflicting interests. Through guided expert interviews and a subsequent qualitative content analysis, the values, interests, goals and power positions of the stakeholders can be recorded, analyzed and embedded in the larger context of local, regional and global perspectives.