The Erlenbach, which flows into the Kirchderner Graben, is part of an extensive renaturation project in the north of Dortmund that is being carried out by the Lippeverband. The ecological improvement of the Kirchderner Graben and its tributaries, which also include the Erlenbach, is an essential part of this project.
The project to renaturate the Kirchderner Graben included the redesign of a total of 7.5 km of water, of which 5.3 km was the main course of the Kirchderner Graben alone. The initiative, which was completed in three years of construction until spring 2021, aimed to restore the natural water structures and upgrade the waters as local recreation areas for the population. Among other things, concrete base shells were removed and replaced with natural watercourses. A total of around 12.6 million euros were invested in ecological improvements.
The renaturation measures are part of the large-scale “Knoten Scharnhorst” project, which includes a comprehensive water management infrastructure, including canals, bodies of water, pumping stations, wastewater treatment, rainwater treatment and flood retention. The work began in 2016 and was successfully completed with the ecological improvement of the waters, including the Erlenbach. This marks the end of the former “Köttelbecke” in the north of Dortmund and represents a significant step towards improving the quality of life in the affected districts.
In addition to the ecological upgrade, new cycling and hiking trails were also created along the Kirchderner Graben, inviting residents and visitors to explore and enjoy the newly designed water landscape.
These renaturation projects show how targeted measures can be used to transform water bodies that were previously polluted by industry and wastewater into valuable ecosystems and recreational areas for the population.