Flood protection concerns raised for Danube and Iller rivers

Water ecologist Stefan Alexander Voigt is calling for increased space for rivers to improve flood protection in the Danube and Iller regions. He notes that the two rivers possess different temperaments: the Danube rises gradually, while the Iller, a mountain river from the Allgäu, reacts rapidly to heavy precipitation and snowmelt.

When both rivers experience high water levels simultaneously, the volumes combine at the confluence, increasing flood risks. Voigt highlights that many areas in Neu-Ulm, particularly low-lying western districts, have historically been vulnerable. He cites the 1999 Pentecost flood, which inundated parts of Neu-Ulm and required the evacuation of the Danube Clinic and a correctional facility, as a significant turning point in understanding regional flood management.