Mittelweiher Restoration Area

<< On the way to its former state - renaturation of the Mittelweiher >>
"The Mittelweiher is located below the Mürmes nature reserve.
Like the Mürmes, the Mittelweiher was dammed up by a dam in the Middle Ages and serves as a fish pond for the Elector of Trier. Around 1800 the dam is breached and the pond runs dry. As part of the land consolidation, the streams are being straightened to improve drainage of the area.
The Mürmesbach and the Finkenbach should now flow again in their natural form. Through the project "Lessons in the forest - cooperation school - forestry office" students of the GSG Daun participate in the planning and implementation of this nature conservation measure. The aim of the work is the design of small water areas and the modification of the straightened stream to create new biotope types. The achievements of the two students were honored with second place in the state competition 'Jugend forscht' and awarded the environmental prize.
The local community, cultural office, forest administration, state maintenance and water authority, Nabu Daun and biotope caretakers are involved in the project. 10.6 ha are purchased for nature conservation purposes. Initial measures for water body renaturation are being carried out on approx. 1 km of stream. Three small bodies of water (Blänken) are created. 6.6 hectares of meadow area are extensively cultivated by local farmers."
ellscheid-vulkaneifel.de/wcms/ftp//e/ellscheid-vulkaneifel.de/uploads/renaturierungmittelweiher.pdf

For birds, it is an important resting and resting place with the nearby Sangweiher and Jungferweiher. Around 1400, the Electors of Trier created three fish ponds in this area, with the Mürmes-Maar being used as the uppermost pond. Between 1800 and 1950, the local population was able to cut peat because the dam had been destroyed and the water was draining away. The 43-hectare nature reserve has been protected since 1978. 22 hectares belong to the NABU Daun, and the Vulkaneifel district owns 21 hectares. Since then, the moor has been re-wetted in a controlled manner using a new discharge barrier and thus renaturalized.