Rappenalpbach river restoration completed in Allgäu Alps

Restoration work has been completed on a 1.3-kilometer section of the Rappenalpbach in the Allgäu Alps, following environmental damage caused by unauthorized dredging operations. The project aims to return the waterway to its natural state as a wild stream after it was converted into a canal in late 2022.

The previous canalization, commissioned by an alpine cooperative to protect pastures from debris, resulted in the loss of local flora and fauna and caused the river to dry up at times. Following a court order for decommissioning, workers have leveled the gravel bed and raised the riverbed to restore the natural flow.

While the Landratsamt Oberallgäu and local officials have characterized the measures as a sustainable way to restore the Rappenalp valley, environmental groups note that the ecological recovery is still ongoing. A criminal investigation regarding the original works concluded in July 2024 with fines imposed on two individuals.