R h i n eSalmon

InternationaleKommission zumSchutz des Rheins

CommissionInternationale

pour la Protectiondu Rhin

InternationaleCommissie terBeschermingvan de Rijn

2020

Publisher:International Commissionfor the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)Postfach 20 02 53D-56002 Koblenz

Tel.: +49-(0)261-94252-0Fax: +49-(0)261-94252-52E-mail: sekretariat@iksr.deInternet: www.iksr.org

Editor:Dr. Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig

Scientific advice: Dr. Jörg Schneider and ICPR fisheries experts

Author: Barbara Froehlich-Schmitt

Translation: K. Wehner

Title photo:LMZ,ASR, B. Stemmer, G. Feldhaus,U. Haufe, S. Staas

Design and production:AD DAS WERBETEAM GMBHwww.ad-werbeteam.de

ISBN: 3-935324-51-0

Print run: 2.000

Copyright: ICPR- 2004

Auf Perlen schäumenden WeinesHerzliebchen trag’ ich dich fort,Fort zu den Ufern des Rheines,Dort weiß ich den schönsten Ort.

Dort siehst eine Insel Du ragenIm hellen Mondenschein,Die Pfalz die tut sie tragen,Dort wandern wir dann zu zwei’n.…Es schwimmen herbei und lauschenDie Salme, die leckern Gesell’n,…

„Herzliebchen in der Pfalz”Heinrich Heine (1824)

The island Pfalz near Kaub in the Middle Rhine

Phot

o: L

MZ,

H.P.

Mer

ten

3

Summary 4Map of projects 5

Introduction 6Vision of wild salmon in the Rhine 6Target biological diversity 7The history of salmon fishery 8Salmon life cycle 9

1. Secure nursery grounds 10The demanding children of the salmon 10Inventory of juvenile fish habitats 11Future salmon populations 12Habitat measures 13

2. Open migration routes 14Rhine delta 15Lower Rhine 15Middle Rhine 16Upper Rhine 17High Rhine 17

3. Release juvenile fish 18Table of salmon stocking exercise 19Rhine delta 20Lower Rhine 20Middle Rhine 20Upper Rhine 20High Rhine 21

4. Success control 22Monitoring stations 22Diversity of migratory fish 23Downstream migration 25Returning from the ocean 26Natural reproduction 27

Assessment and Conclusion 28

Bibliography 30

R h i n e & S a l m o n 2 0 2 0

A Programme for Migratory Fish in the Rhine System

S u m m a r y

4

3rd vision: Salmon stocking is self-sustaining

During the past five years, some11 million juvenile salmon havebeen released into the Rhinecatchment. Partly, they are thedescendants of adult returningsalmon.

4th vision: Wild salmon in the Rhine in 2020

The return of salmon from theocean and, above all, their natu-ral reproduction prove thesuccess of this programme. Since1990, evidence has been givenof more than 2400 adult salmonreturning and migrating up-stream the Rhine system. Morethan 300 of them used the newfish passage at Iffezheim, 700 kmupstream the estuary.

Rhine salmon are not yet inde-pendant of human help andstocking exercises. But theyalready reproduce naturally inseveral tributaries to the Lower,Middle and Upper Rhine. Thisraises hopes that stable wildsalmon populations may beachieved in the Rhine system bythe year 2020.

1st vision: Several thousands ofsalmon in the Rhine

The list of suitable salmon habi-tats in the Rhine tributaries hasbecome considerably longer.Therefore, the hope of the ICPRto achieve a larger salmon popu-lation than what was calculatedonly five years ago, seems to bejustified. Careful estimate: 7,000to 21,000 salmon annuallymigrating upstream.

2nd vision: Undisrupted salmon migration as far as Basel

Since 2001, three new fishpassages have been opened inthe Rhine delta. Numerous weirshave been changed or loweredin the tributaries to the Lower,Middle, Upper and High Rhine.On the Upper Rhine, theIffezheim fish passage was putinto service in 2000. In 2006, thesecond huge fish passage willopen its gates at Gambsheim.

"Salmon 2000" and its successful actions in favour of migratory fish isbeing continued in the 21st century. It is part of the new ICPR workingprogramme "Rhine 2020”. So visions can become true:

M a p o f p r o j e c t s

5

Saysbach

IJssel

Mos

elle

Sarre

I n t r o d u c t i o n

6

This brochure is published fiveyears after the InternationalRhine Symposium in Rastatt andthe brochure "Has the Rhineagain become a Salmon carryingRiver”. In 1999, conclusionswere: The Rhine Action Pro-gramme and "Salmon 2000”prove to be a great success andhave reached the target to en-able migratory fish such as thesalmon to return to a restoredRhine (ICPR reports 102 +103, 1999).

A vision of wild

A vision of wildsalmon in the Rhine

We must now head for a new,demanding target, which is thedevelopment of stable Rhinesalmon populations capable ofnatural reproduction and mainte-nance of stock without anystocking exercise or other humanhelp. The ICPR work programmeRhine 2020 puts the require-

Rhine Symposium in Rastatt, 1999

EU water framework directive� focuses on biological indicators� defines the good ecological status� fixes 2015 as deadline for achieving the good status in

all European water bodies

Targets Rhine 2020 � Restore the habitat patch connectivity� Ecological patency of the R. Rhine from Lake Constance to the North Sea

as well as of the tributaries listed in the programme on migratory fish.IKSR (2001) p. 12

The salmon has returned, but it isstill hiding. We want it to beabundant, as a source of joy!

Mrs Perrin-Gaillard / Deputeefrom Paris, Rhine Symposium 1999

The great enthousiasm forSalmon 2000 in Switzerland,France, Germany, Luxemburgand right up to the Netherlandshas made the programme to asuccess story

Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig (2000)

ments of the EU Water Frame-work Directive (WFD) into con-crete terms. Its objective is toachieve the good ecological sta-tus of all rivers or the maximumenvironmental potential in caseof heavily modified water bodies.Further pan-European regula-tions, such as the Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) directive help pre-serve and develop natural aquatic ecosystems.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

Phot

o: H

. Sto

lzen

burg

7

So the programme Rhine 2020looks at the biological diversity ofthe Rhine system. Apart from thesalmon, the target species withinthis programme are the manytypical plants and animals whichformerly or today colonize theriver, its tributaries and alluvial ar-eas. Other migratory fish speciesswim in the wake of the salmon,

e.g. sea trout, allice shad andriver lamprey but also greatcrested grebe and kingfisher,beaver and otter as well as waternut and water fringe, because allactions targeted at protectingand renaturing the Rhine riversystem enhance its naturalbiological diversity.

Targets of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) directive� Implement the Rio de Janeiro Convention on biological

diversity of 1992

� Protect European natural heritage

� Preserve endangered plant and animal species within a network of strictly protected areas = NATURA 2000

Directive 92/43/EEC

Species protected according to the FFH directive,e.g.:� Atlantic salmon (and other migratory fish)

� river pearl mussel

� yellow-bellied toad

� beaver

� otter

Otter

Great crested grebeKingfisher

Old bed of the Rhine

Rhine Salmon 2020Actions1. Restore habitats2. Activate floodplains 3. Improve river structure4. Remove obstacles to free

migration and develop asubnatural network ofhabitats

Target: biological divers i ty a long the Rhine

Phot

o: W

olfra

m G

onitz

Phot

os: M

anfre

d D

elph

o, w

ww

.del

pho.

de

8

and the biggest salmon river inEurope and salmon belonged tostaple food. But massive stockingexercises began as early as the19th century and an internation-al salmon treaty was passed, tar-geted at “increasing the stock ofsalmon in the Rhine area” (Reichs-

amt 1886). Since mill weirs ob-structed the access to numerousspawning areas, fishermendemanded the construction of“salmon ladders”.

The pollution of the Rhine withdomestic and industrial wastewater started to be a problem inthe 19th century and culminatedin the mid 20th century. Rhinesalmon died out in the 1950s.

Due to poor water quality in thelower course of the Rhine, the In-ternational Commission for theProtection of the Rhine (ICPR)was then founded. Followingthe fire of the Sandoz warehousenear Basel and the resultinggreat fish kills in 1986, the effica-cy of the ICPR and its Rhine Ac-tion Programme as well as theprojects for migratory fish”Salmon 2000” was enormous.

The SalmonIn Siberia, Russia and Scandinaviathe salmon is of great importance forpublic nourishment; for us, it is ratherconsidered to be a delicacy (Rhinesalmon) and is sold fresh, smoked andsoused.

Meyers Encyclopedia, vol. 10,Leipzig and Vienna (1895)

Salmon taken from Geßner

The h is tory of sa lmon f i shery. . .

along the Rhine goes right backto Roman times, some 2000years ago. As late as the 18thcentury, the R. Rhine was consid-ered to be the most important

Landmarks Rhine salmon + ICPR

1986 The disastrous chemical accident in Basel caused fish and invertebrate kills as fardownstream as the Lower Rhine

1987 The reply of the ICPR is the Rhine Action Programme or Salmon 2000

1990 The first salmon migrates from the sea into the Lower Rhine and further into the R. Sieg

1991 The ICPR drafts the Ecological Master Plan and a Programme for Migratory Fish

1994 First natural salmon reproduction in the R. Sieg system / Lower Rhine

1995 The first salmon reaches the Iffezheim barrage on the Upper Rhine

1997 First natural salmon reproduction in the Alsacian Ill river system

1999/2000 First salmon redds in the R. Ahr and Saynbach / Middle Rhine

2000 Iffezheim fish passage and monitoring station put into service

2000 Opening of the control station Buisdorf on the R. Sieg

2000 EU Water framework directive (WFD) comes into effect

2000 Rhine 2020 – Programme on the sustainable development of the R. Rhine adoptedby Rhine Ministers

Repr

odu

ctio

n: B

ald

ner

, 166

6

Sea

River

Parr

Smolt

Reproduction

Growth period

Salmon life cycle

Eggs are fertilized by big salmonwith hooked jaws keeping a jeal-ous eye on the procedure and, insome cases, by jacks. These areonly 10 to 20 cm long, preco-cious males dashing out of theirhiding places and spreading theirmilt into the redd. In many cases,half of the hatching breed de-scends from a precocious father.Most salmon die after spawning.A salmon life cycle ends and afterfour months in the river gravelbed a new cycle starts the follow-ing spring.

9

starts in spring, when the larvaeare hatched from the choriondug deep into the gravel bed oflimpid brooks in Europe andNorth America. As long as thealevins feed on their yolk sack,they avoid daylight and are large-ly immobile. Later they wriggleup from the gravel bed andsearch for suitable habitats in theshallow parts of the river. Theyfeed on microscopic life in thestream and grow to spottet parr.After 1 or 2 years they leave theriver as 12-20 cm long silverysmolts and gain the sea. In theAtlantic Ocean they travel to thefeeding grounds around Green-land, where they feed on crus-taceans and smaller fish andgrow rapidly. Multi sea wintersalmon having spent several win-ters in the ocean may weighmore than 10 kilos and grow to asize of 80 to 100 cm. As they be-come mature, they return overthousands of kilometres from theAtlantic Ocean back to the estu-ary of their natal river and mi-grate upstream.It is believed that it is above allthe smell which guides salmon

on their way upriver. They traveluntil they reach the confluenceof their "home” tributary wherethey leave the main channel andcontinue upriver. Most naturalobstacles, such as rapids andsmaller waterfalls do not obstructtheir migration. Thus they gainthe upper reaches of the riverwhere they once hatched, a cooland limpid brook with a gravelbed. That is where they engagein courtship in the fall of the year.While females dig several meterwide redds into the gravel bed,males fight for the best places.

Different stages in the lives of salmon and sea trout

Alevin Feeding off yolk sack (after hatching, before being ableto feed independently)

Fry The first weeks after feeding off yolk sack

Parr Juvenile fish, 1 to 3 years old with lateral parr marks

Jacks Precocious parr

Smolt Juvenile fish between the age of 2 and 4 years,mostly migrates downstream in the spring

Grilse Small adult salmon returning to its natal river after 1 winter at sea,which is often the case with salmon and, above all, sea trout

MSW "Multi-Sea-Winter", big returning adult salmon with more than1 (often 2-3) winter(s) ocean residence

Kelt Fish that has spawned, dies in most cases

(HUMBORG 1990, LE CREN 1985, PEDROLI 1991)

The l i fe cyc leof At lant ic sa lmon. . .

S e c u r e n u r s e r y g r o u n d s11

10

Children of salmonare demanding

Salmon only successfully repro-duce in rivers with clean, coolwater rich in oxygen. They preferthe so called hyporhitral, the low-er salmonid region of mountainrivers also called the graylingzone after its key indicatorspecies, and the metarhitral, thelower trout region. Natural, unal-tered rivers and brooks with highflow velocity are most suitable,since they are de-silted by naturalflow dynamics and floods createnew gravel beds, scours andshelters.

Salmon alevin feeding from yolk sack

The grayling is the key indicator species of juvenile salmon habitats

Juvenile salmon require a greathabitat diversity. During the sum-mer they live in the shallowgravely parts of the river offeringmuch shelter, e.g. stones off theriver banks. In autumn, youngsalmon colonize deeper areaswith less current. This is whenprecocious males head down-stream, awaiting the females re-turning from the ocean!

Rhine 2020Ecosystem improve-mentby protecting and revitalizing in-tact salmon spawning grounds,juvenile habitats and suitable fishhabitats

in the main streamin tributaries included inthe programme on migratory fish

IKSR (2001) p. 13

Salmon redd

Young salmon in the Steinchesbach/Bröl

Typical juvenile salmon habitat

Phot

o: G

erh

ard

Fel

dh

aus

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rgPh

oto:

U. H

aufe

Foto

: Fra

nk

Mol

lsFo

to: B

ern

d S

tem

mer

1111

Inventory ofjuvenile habitats

Formerly, salmon migrated upthe main channel until theyreached the falls of the Rhinenear Schaffhausen. They used tospawn in the southern UpperRhine as well as in the HighRhine. Since the Upper Rhine hasbeen dammed, the Franco-Ger-man old bed of the Rhine is theonly river section with consider-able spawning habitats. Eventhough there are barrages in theHigh Rhine, there are still two un-obstructed sections suitable forfish spawning in gravel beds.

Most of the historically provensalmon spawning habitats werelocated in the Rhine tributariesand their tributaries from the up-lands to the pre-alpine regions.The Lower Rhine tributaries Ruhr,Wupper and Sieg from the Ber-gisches Land, the Sauerland andSiegerland were already consid-ered to be salmon habitats.There were many old salmonrivers in the Middle Rhine region.On the right banks of the Rhine,the R. Saynbach, Lahn and Wis-per drain the Westerwald andTaunus. On the left bank the R.Ahr, Nette, Moselle and Nahedraining from Eifel, Hunsrückand Vosges flow into the Rhine.The R. Main and its formersalmon tributaries from Oden-wald and Spessart are right banktributaries to the Upper Rhine.Formerly, the R. Neckar used tobe a salmon river, just as theBlack Forest rivers Alb, Murg,Rench, Kinzig and Elz. On theleft banks of the Rhine the salmonmigrated from the Upper Rhineinto the tributaries Lauter, Ill andits tributaries from the Vosges,among them the R. Bruche.

From the High Rhine the salmonmigrated into the right banktributary Wiese, into the left banktributaries Birs and Ergolz andvia the R. Aare into many pre-alpine tributaries, 1.200 kmupstream the Rhine estuary.

Mapping of juvenile habitatsDuring the last 15 years, inten-sive investigations were made in-to which rivers are apt for carry-

ing salmon and sea trout. Today,several additional river sectionsare considered to be suitable.The sections concerned are partsof the tributaries to the LowerRhine Wupper with its tributariesDhünn, Ruhr with Volme andUpper Rhine tributaries from theBlack Forest, such as Alb and trib-utaries to the rivers Murg, Rench,Kinzig and Elz figuring in theprogramme.

Section of Tributaries Surface in hathe Rhine Spawning area Juvenile habitat

Lower Rhine Ruhr + Volme etc. * 3,5Wupper + Dhünn * 42,4Sieg + Agger 20,1 150,0

Middle Rhine Ahr 18,0 90,0Saynbach + Brexbach 2,3 7,0Moselle: Sauer + Our 5,5 71,0Moselle: left bank tributaries Prüm, Kyll + X 12,7 14,8Lahn: Mühlbach, Dill, Weil, Banfe 1,5+* 3,0+*Lahn: Laasphebach 0,3 4,0Wisper 0,3 1,1

Upper Rhine Main + Hessian Kinzig, Rodach Kinzig 2,0+* Kinzig 8,4+*Lauter 0,4 4,0Ill: Bruche, Lièpvrette, Fecht,Thur, Doller 2,5 70,0Old bed of the Rhine 3,5 64,0Alb, Murg, Rench, Kinzig in Baden 2,5 180,0Elz + Dreisam * *

High Rhine Wiese 0,3 1,2Birs 1,0 10,7Ergolz 0,2 1,2

TOTAL 73,1 726,3

* unknown at present

11

Salmon habitat in the R. Nister

Foto

: BFS

Sch

nei

der

12

Unfortunately, many of the repro-duction habitats capable of carry-ing salmon are isolated in the riv-er network. In the tributaries, hy-draulic engineering facilities of-ten interrupt subnatural riversections and a chain of barragescuts off their connection with themain channel. This particularlyapplies to the R. Moselle, Main,the Upper Rhine upstream of If-fezheim and the High Rhine. The inventory of suitable spawn-ing grounds and juvenile habi-tats serves as basis for a rough es-timate of the carrying capacityfor future salmon populations.A female salmon deposits at max-imum 10.000 eggs on 100 m2 ofgravel bed. About 1 %, that is100 salmon per 1.000 m2 juve-nile habitat survive to migratedownstream. If later on only 4 ofthem return from the ocean tospawn, the stock of salmon sur-vives. Probably hardly half of theadults returning from the oceanreproduce successfully.

1 hectare of juvenile habitatmay annually produce a pop-ulation of 10 to 30 adult re-turning salmon.According to the present state ofknowledge, the Rhine system to-day hosts 100 ha spawninggrounds and 700 ha juvenilehabitats. On 100 ha spawninggrounds in the Rhine systemsome 10.000 female salmon maydeposit 100 million eggs, about

1 million of which survive to thestage of a smolt migrating down-stream. 700.000 smolts may rearon 700 ha juvenile habitat.Oncea new stock of Rhine salmon willhave developed, it may be ex-pected that 1-2% of salmon re-turn from the sea (ICPR 1994).

Then the salmon populationachievable on the mediumterm will amount to 7.000 to21.000 adult salmon.This only represents a fraction ofthe former population, but ismore than the estimate of 1999.Even though habitat improve-ment measures may on the longrun increase this number, theICPR is perfectly aware of the factthat, due to hydraulic measuresand water uses in the Rhine sys-tem, the former size of salmonstocks can never be restored.

In the different tributary systems,the surface of juvenile habi-tats is the limiting factor aslong as it is not about 10 timesthe surface of the spawninggrounds. In the Northrhine-West-phalian R. Sieg system there are20 ha of spawning grounds asopposed to some 100 ha juve-nile fish habitats. Therefore, thepotential adult salmon popula-tion does not amount to 2-6,000, but only to 1-3,000.In the R. Saynbach watershedthere are only 7 ha of juvenilehabitat for 2.3 ha spawning

grounds. It is estimated that be-tween 70 and 210 adult salmonmay return. In the tributaries tothe lower R. Lahn there are 1.5ha spawning grounds and 3 hajuvenile habitats. This means that30 to 90 salmon are expected toreturn.

In the R. Sauer and Our in Lux-emburg between 700 and 2,100salmon are expected to return tothe 6 ha of spawning groundsand about 70 ha of juvenile habi-tats.In the Alsacian tributaries to theR. Ill some 50 ha of juvenile fishhabitats have been mapped. Thismeans that between 500 and1,500 returning salmon may beexpected.

If migratory routes were not dis-rupted, 600 to 1,800 adultsalmon might return to the oldbed of the Rhine with its 64 hajuvenile fish habitat.

Old bed of the Rhine

Old bed of the Rhine

Future sa lmon populat ions

Phot

o: H

ajo

Wet

zlar

Phot

o: H

ajo

Wet

zlar

13

Sa lmon habi tatmeasures

The high ecological demands ofsalmon on their spawning andnursery grounds require particu-lar measures for renaturing for-mer salmon carrying rivers.Damming and river training haveoften reduced flow velocity, siltedup gravel banks and, in manycases rivers banks are artificial.

Within the ICPR Salmon 2000programme, many former juve-nile salmon habitats have beenprepared: gravel banks havebeen loosened and cleaned, riverbank stabilizations have been re-moved.

In the R. Sauer in Luxemburg, atributary to the R. Moselle, formerfloodplains and a side channel tothe Sauer were renatured as apart of ecological flood protec-tion measures. Enlarging the riv-er profile has restored the riverdynamics of the Sauer andhelped develop natural river bedand bank structures.

If channel bed sills and weirs nolonger having any function arelowered, this will improve riverpatency and dynamics. Addition-ally, there are different possibili-ties of renaturing rivers or en-hancing their dynamics, evenwithout any excavation:

� River maintenance should bereduced to a minimum andriver bank stabilizations shouldnot be maintained but re-moved wherever possible.

� River bank stripes should re-main out of use in order to re-duce the input of fertilizer andpesticides.

� Dead wood, such as branch-es, bushes and trees may beplaced in a brook on purposeto considerably increase struc-tural diversity. Often gravelbanks which salmon prefer forspawning form in the shadowof the current.

Renatured R. Sauer in Luxemburg

Dead wood in the river

Loosening gravel banks in the R. Sieg

Phot

o: M

ax L

auff

Phot

o: O

. Nie

pag

enke

mpe

rPh

oto:

Ber

nd

Ste

mm

er

O p e n m i g r a t i o n r o u t e s22

14

More than a hundred years ago,many mill weirs already disruptedfish migration routes. But fromtime to time the mills did notwork, weirs were neither toohigh nor too sophisticated sothat some fish managed to slipthrough or to jump over. The firstfish passages were built. Never-theless, less and less migratoryfish reached the spawninggrounds in the Rhine tributaries.This was one of the main reasonsfor why Rhine salmon died out.River training in the 19th and20th century targeted at facilitat-ing navigation, at protectingfrom flooding and at producinghydroelectric power. The side ef-fects of these measures on naturewere underestimated. Many fishare heavily injured on their waydownstream through rotatingturbines of hydroelectric powerplants. But, above all, river train-ing proves to be a considerable

obstacle for fish migration - lead-ing to a mortal infarctus.Today, one of the prerequisitesfor reintroducing migratory fish isto open migration routes. Manyreproduction habitats still existbut are not accessible. Some ofthe "Salmon 2000" projects aredesigned to put things right. In afirst step, and parallel to the pro-ceedings for habitats, obstaclesto migration have been inven-toried and mapped. Within theinventory demanded by the Wa-ter Framework Directive, newweir registers are drawn up andwill be presented in the begin-ning of 2005.

Weirs of hydroelectric powerplants obstruct upstream fish mi-gration, turbines are problematicfor downstream travelling, eventhough fish passages exist. Of-ten, fish ladders were miscon-structed and too little attractionwater made it difficult for fish tofind the entrance to the ladder(PEDROLI 1991). Fish protection facil-ities for downstream migrationbypassing by turbines are urgent-ly required. The re-establishment of linearriver patency, that is of up- anddownstream fauna migration inthe Rhine and its side channelshas made variable progress andis often still in the planningphase. However, many examplesprove that it is worth while theeffort. More and more salmonspawn upstream places whereobstacles have been removed.

The ICPR demands to developsubnatural solutions when re-moving obstacles in the river. Pre-cise proposals have been madeto remove all weirs without wa-ter rights and to build subnaturalfish passages, such as blockramps, bypassing the remainingweirs. Technical solutions such asDenil or vertical slot passageshave also proved to be efficientin places, where there is littleroom. Some fish passages shouldbe equipped with fish viewingwindows and monitoring sta-tions.

Salmon smolts after passing throughturbines

With a view to increasing the stock of salmon in our rivers obstructed by several weirs,barrages, mills (...) so that salmon formerly migrating upstream no longer have anyaccess, the construction of salmon ladders (salmon ladders, fish ways, fish passages) isurgently required. Such facilities will permit salmon to reach the overshot water of weirswhich are too high to be lept over in order to reach the spawning grounds in the upperregions of the rivers.

Meyers Encyclopedia, vol. 6, Leipzig and Vienna (1894)

Rhine 2020Restoration of ecological patency with the help of bypass rivers orauxiliary migration facilities (fish passages or the like).

of the main stream, e.g. at barragesof the tributaries figuring in the programme on migratory fish, ifnecessary by removing weirs which are no longer used

IKSR (2001) p. 13

Phot

o: B

FS, J

. Sch

nei

der

15

Rhine de l ta

In the Netherlands, the Rhinesplits into the three branches IJs-sel, Nederrijn / Lek and Waal.Additionally, near the estuary, theMeuse is connected to the Waal.At the time being, fish can travelupstream from the ocean throughthe Nieuwe Waterweg, pass bythe port of Rotterdam, throughthe R. Waal and into the Rhinewithout coming across any ob-stacle. But the other gates to theRhine, the sluices at the closureembankments of Haringvliet andIJsselsea are accessible to a lim-ited extent only. It is plannedthat, from 2008 on, the Haring-vliet sluices will be partly opened.The extent of opening dependson the discharge of the Rhineand will be monitored until2012. After this period, a deci-sion will be taken with respect tothe question whether the sluicesare to be opened more widely,thus also admitting tidal influ-ence (see: www.haringvlietsluizen.nl).Three new fish passages havebeen built bypassing the bar-rages in the Lek. By the end of

2001 the first of them, built atthe Driel barrage, was put intoservice. Construction of the fishpassages Amerongen andHagestein was accomplished mid2004, their functionality will betested in 2005/6.

Lower Rhine

Further weirs have been altered orlowered in the tributary systems ofthe Ruhr, Wupper and Sieg.Pilot facilities protecting down-stream fish migration areplanned for the turbines. Theyare important not only forsalmon and sea trout smolts, butfor all river fish species. Furtherdetails are given in the North-rhine-Westphalian programmeon migratory fish (MUNLV 2003).

IJsselsea

IJssel

LithWoudrichem

HagesteinNieuwe�Waterweg�

�

Haringvliet�estuary�

�LEK��

MAAS��

WAAL��

GERMANY

BELGIUM

AmerongenDriel

Westervoort

Driel

Hagestein

Amerongen

Photo:Fish passage Driel, Tom BuijseFish passage Amerongen, Cees WitvlietFish passage Hagestein, RIZA Lelystad

Fish passagee. g. rough ramp

Fish passagee. g. bypass river

Grafik: Kernteam WFP NRW, Dr. Frank Moll

Mechanical device protectingfish from entering the turbine, e. g. fine screen(5-10 mm) or rotary screen

Bypass for downrivermigrating fish• at the surface for

salmonid smolts• at the bottom for eel

Sufficient minimal flow

Hydroelectric power plant

Measures:Hydroelectric power plantin bypass river

16

Along theMiddle Rhine

In 2002, a weir in the R. Ahr inRhineland-Palatinate was trans-formed subnaturally and, at thesame time, the river bottom wascleared from concrete. Two moreweirs have been changed andmodifications are planned for an-other six.

Along the R. Nahe downstreamthe mouth of the R. Glan thereare six weirs without any func-tional fish passages. In the R.Glan, a tributary to the Nahe, themodification of weirs has begun.

In the Saynbach-Brexbach riversystem, where exemplary modifi-cations were carried out on sixweirs between 1996 and 1999,all weirs are supposed to be sur-mountable for fish by 2005 (Aktion

Blau in RP, see VDSF 2003 p. 48).

On the lower R. Lahn in Rhine-land Palatinate 8 of 11 weirs dis-rupt fish migration, among themthe lowermost weir in Lahnstein,the salmon "gate to the R. Lahn”belonging to the German navi-gation administration. In 2002,headlines of the Rheinzeitungread:"When the journey ends atthe weir ..." and "No way for

salmon to surmount the Lahn-stein obstacle”.

On the Upper Lahn in Hessemost obstacles are side weirswhich fish with a good swim-ming capacity manage to crossand 16 of the 56 weirs areequipped with fishways. In theR. Dill, a tributary to the Lahn,12 of the 37 transversal struc-

tures have been equipped withfish passages, so that patency isgranted along the 30 river km be-tween the estuary and Herborn.Until 2004, all of the 10 weirs onthe R. Weil, a tributary to theLahn, were changed (RP Giessen).

Since 2002 the lower Wisper ispatent for migratory fish.

Apart from the first one, the fishladders at the 10 weirs on thelower R. Moselle are difficult tocross for fish (ICPR 1999, report 103, p.

21). At the time being, Rhineland-Palatinate is working on a studyaimed at their alteration. In theR. Sauer, a tributary to theMoselle, 4 weirs have been re-moved at Rosport-Ralingen inLuxemburg and one fish passagehas been modified. 3 weirs onthe R. Our, a tributary to the R.Sauer, were altered.

Upper Rhine

Upstream the junction with theR. Kinzig, there are five barragesin the lower R. Main without anysuitable fish passages. These willbe altered or reconstructed by2006. In the Hessian R. Kinzig it-self many weirs have been re-moved or equipped with fish-ways. At present, there are onlytwo obstacles left in the lowerKinzig but several weirs subsist inthe Kinzig tributaries. In particu-lar, hydroelectric power utiliza-tion poses major problems (VSDF

2003, p. 63).

While there are no obstacles fromthe Rhine estuary through the R.Waal until the Iffezheim barragesome 700 km upstream, 10 bar-rages obstruct the 164 km of theFranco-German Upper Rhine be-tween Iffezheim and Basel.France, Germany and the opera-tors of the hydroelectric powerplant have jointly financed theconstruction of a fish passage by-passing the lower most barrageat Iffezheim which is operationalsince June 2000. Subsidised bythe EU Life programme, the ICPRparticipated in financing the con-struction costs amounting to anoverall 8 million Euros. Nowsalmon and other migratory fishdo not encounter any obstacleson their way from the North Seato the R. Ill in Alsace and the R.Rench in Bade-Württemberg.French and German IndustrialFisheries Boards and administra-tions jointly monitor fish migra-tion at the Iffezheim monitoringstation (see success control p. 24).

Gambsheim, the next upstreambarrage, will also be equippedwith a jointly financed fish pas-sage. Construction work of the

Blasting a weir in the loop of the R. Sauer in Luxemburg with aids from Rhineland-Palatinate

Phot

o: G

eorg

es M

ulle

r

17

baffled pass similar to that at If-fezheim began in spring 2004and the fish passage is scheduledto be operational in the begin-ning of 2006. Additionally, thisfish passage will include a largefish viewing room open to thepublic.But there are more barrages inthe Upper Rhine between Gambs-heim and Basel which, so far, dis-rupt fish migration. The ICPR hascommissioned a feasibility studyon the restoration of the UpperRhine river patency, the results ofwhich will be presented in 2006.

High RhineIn the Swiss High Rhine, manybarrages obstruct the way to-wards the last two freely flowingstretches of the Rhine whichwould be suitable for spawning.

In the High Rhine tributariesWiese, Birs and Ergolz, eight ob-stacles have been altered sincethe mapping of obstacles in1996 by building bypass chan-nels, ramps, etc. for fish migra-tion.

Map: LFV BW

Model of the fish passage at theRheinfelden hydroelectric power plant

In the French R. Ill and its tribu-tary Bruche, several basin pas-sages have already been built,others are still due. In December2000, a basin passage was putinto operation at the hydroelec-tric power plant Erstein on the R.Ill, some 30 km south of Stras-bourg, opening the Ill tributariesFecht, Thur and Doller forsalmonids.

In the Baden-Württemberg tribu-taries Alb, Murg, Rench, Kinzigand Elz many weirs have beenmodified or equipped with fishpassages. But the turbines ofmany small hydroelectric powerplants cause considerable prob-lems for downstream fish migra-tion. Additionally, too little wateris flowing through many of thebypass rivers.

Ener

gie

die

nst

AG

Release rivers in the German andFrench Upper Rhine areaRelease period: 1993 - 2001

Patency of transversal structures for samonids

patent

restricted patency

strongly restricted patency

hardly or not patent

salmon river

R e l e a s e j u v e n i l e f i s h33

18

The main ICPR target set out inthe “Ecological Master Plan forthe Rhine” was to reintroduce mi-gratory fish such as salmon andsea trout (ICPR 1991). As for the seatrout, replenishing of the stockstill existing in the Rhine systemwas to be based on natural re-production and on the catch ofmature adults. Since the salmondied out in Rhine system in thefifties of the 20th century, a newstock of Rhine salmon had to becreated.Therefore, eggs were collectedfrom other wild salmon stocksand raised in fish hatcheries be-fore the juvenile fish were re-leased into suitable habitats.Having thus again started off thesalmon life cycle and achievedthe aim set out in “Salmon 2000”,that is downstream migration, re-turn of adult salmon from theocean and even natural repro-duction, juvenile salmon must all

the same still be hatched and re-leased for some time to come.Still, eggs are today partly collect-ed from adult salmon returningfrom the ocean! The ICPR hopesthat, as time passes by, a stock ofRhine salmon adapted to localconditions will develop and natu-rally reproduce in the Rhine sys-tem without any artificial sup-porting measures. This is one ofthe targets set out in “Rhine2020”.

Today, salmon migrating severalhundreds of kilometres upstream(almost 1000 km) are only foundin the French Loire/Allier-system.But, for the last 30 years, eventhe Loire salmon has been artifi-cially supported (PEDROLI 1991).

In future, the number of stocksof origin from which salmoneggs destined for the Rhine sys-tem are imported will be marked-

ly reduced. It is admitted that di-verse stocks of wild salmon and abroad genetic variety could offermore room for a natural selectionand the adaptation of newsalmon populations to presenthabitats. After all, the formerstock of Rhine salmon did notconsist of one homogenous, butprobably of several different pop-ulations living in the different trib-utaries. However, certain scien-tists fear that, if different stocksare cross-bred, in particular artifi-cial reproduction may lead to aloss of genetic fitness (Schneider and

others 2004).

All stocking exercises implying mi-gratory fish are documented in acentral data base in NRW (LÖBF)

which the ICPR may use since2002. The table below gives anoverview over the stocking exer-cises of the past five years (Stocking

exercises 1994-98, see ICPR 1999, report

no. 103, p. 32).

Stocking in the Rhine Origin of salmon eggsregion (1999-2003) importation Returning adults

Germany / NRW Ireland, Sweden Yes!

D / Rhineland-Palatinate France, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Spain,Scotland Yes!

D / Hesse France, Denmark, Sweden Yes!

D / Bavaria Ireland, France

D / Bade-Württemberg Ireland, Sweden Yes!

Luxemburg France Yes! (Moselle estuary)

France France, Sweden Yes!

Switzerland France

Information board for fishermen along theAllier helping them to recognize salmon

Phot

o: A

dam

Sch

mitt

19

In most cases, salmon were re-leased as alevins or parr. So,during the past 5 years,some 11 million salmonhave been released intothe Rhine catchment.

According to fisheries experts,this considerable stocking exer-cise was necessary in order tomake up for the high naturalmortality of young salmon (see

salmon population estimates p. 12).

Stocking juvenile salmon in the Rhine river system1999-2003

Country River system Stocking exercise

Germany/ Ruhr ca. 5.4 million

Northrhine-Westphalia Wupper

Sieg

Lahn

D / Rhineland-Palatinate Sieg ca. 2.3 million

Ahr

Saynbach

Mosel / Kyll, Prüm

Lahn / Mühlbach

D / Hesse Lahn / Dill, Weil ca. 1 million

Wisper

Main / Kinzig

D / Bavaria Main ca. 0.2 million

D / Bade-Württemberg Alb ca. 0.3 million

Murg

Rench

Kinzig / Erlenbach,

Gutach, Wolfach

Luxemburg Sauer / Our ca. 0.2 million

France Old bed of the Rhine ca. 1.6 million

Ill

Switzerland Rhine ca. 0.3 million

D, L, F, CH entire Rhine ca. 11.3 million

Releasing salmon alevinsChildren help releasing small salmon

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

Phot

o: A

rmin

Nem

itz

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

20

Rhine de l ta

In the Dutch Rhine delta, thereare no suitable salmon or seatrout spawning grounds andthus no stocking exercises. How-ever, big mature salmonids re-turning from the North Sea aremonitored (see p. 27).

Lower Rhine

Annually, about one million juve-nile salmon are released into theRhine tributaries from the lowmountain ranges in Northrhine-Westphalia. Most of them arealevins hatched from eggs or fewweeks old fry. Apart from that, ju-venile parr, yearlings and smoltsare released. It is expected that,from 2004 on, the first markedadult salmon of the SwedishÄtran stock used since 2003 willreturn. That means that, in fu-ture, the importation of salmoneggs can be reduced in favour ofthe “home production”. Somesalmon manage to pass by moni-toring and catching stations andcelebrate veritable marriages innature. Others are let pass onpurpose in order to enhance nat-ural reproduction. It has been de-cided that “with a view to deter-mining the success of natural re-production” (MUNLV 2003, p. 21)

only young marked salmon willbe released into certain brooks.This allows to distinguish be-

tween stocked salmon and wilddescendants. As soon as thecount of downstream migratingsmolts shows that natural repro-duction leads to a sufficient num-ber of descendants, stocking ex-ercises can be stopped.

Middle Rhine

From 2000 on, salmon of twodifferent origins were used forstocking exercises in Rhineland-Palatinate. Eggs collected fromsalmon of the French Loire-Allierstock were hatched and raised toparr in a fish hatchery beforethey were released into the Lahnaffluent Mühlbach and into theR. Ahr. Young parr from theSwedish rivers Lagan and Ätranwere released into the R. Sayn-bach. Here too, eggs are collect-ed from salmon returning fromthe ocean and precocious males,presumably descendants of natu-ral reproduction, are used assperm donators. Since 2001, andwithout any previous stockingexercises, the R. Nette flowing in-to the Rhine between the tribu-taries Moselle and Ahr is colo-nized by “straying” salmon (see p.

26, 27). Since 1996 salmon are al-so released into the Eifel R. Prümand Kyll flowing into the Moselle.In future, Rhineland-Palatinateand Luxemburg will mainly useeggs of salmon from the SwedishR. Ätran for stocking exercises.

The number of sea trout has in-creased in the estuaries of Rhinetributaries in Rhineland-Palati-nate, and even before the year2000 their eggs were collectedfor artificial reproduction andhatching. Due to a natural in-crease in numbers and probablenatural reproduction (e.g. R.Saynbach, Nette) sea trout stock-

ing exercises have been consider-ably reduced.

In Hesse, salmon are released in-to the R. Dill and Weil, both trib-utaries to the R. Lahn and intothe R. Wisper, flowing into theRhine in the Rheingau. In future,only Swedish Ätran salmon willbe used for stocking exercises inthese rivers.Since 2001, salmon are releasedinto the upper R. Lahn near Laas-phe in Northrhine-Westphalia.

In Luxemburg, salmon are re-leased into the R. Sauer, a tribu-tary to the Moselle and its tribu-tary, the Our. The first descen-dants of returning salmon werereleased in 2002. Their parentfish had been caught and eggshad been collected at the firstfish passage on the Moselle inKoblenz (D) for hatching in a fishfarm in Nassau.

Upper Rhine

Since 2001, salmon are reintro-duced into the Hessian Kinzig, atributary to the R. Main as well asinto the Kinzig tributaries. In1994, and since 1998, youngsalmon alevins are released intothe Francian R. Main and its trib-utary, the R. Rodach in Bavaria.

In Baden-Württemberg salmonare released into the Rhine tribu-taries from the Black Forest. Annu-

Collecting eggs from returning salmon

Releasing salmon in the upper R. Sieg

Foto

: Arm

in N

emitz

Phot

o: B

ern

d S

tem

mer

21

ally, up to 90.000 young salmonof Irish origin were released intothese rivers. An even more inten-sive co-operation in salmon hatch-ing is planned with France andsalmon of homogenous originsare strived for in co-operation withSwitzerland. Thus, in future, all re-turning salmon may be identifiedby their origins in the Iffezheimmonitoring station and their eggsmay be collected without takingany genetic risk. (LV BW 2002, SCHNEI-

DER u.a. 2004).

Stocking salmon in the R. Fecht, a tributary to the Ill

In France, Rhine salmon arestocked in the Old bed of theRhine and the R. Ill. The fry aremostly of Allier origin, partly theycome from Brittany or they aredescendants of adults returningto the Rhine and which, since2000, were caught in the Rhineat Iffezheim or in the R. Bruchedownstream the Avolsheim bar-rage. Artificial fertilization pro-duced more than 100,000 eyedeggs. In future, stocking exerciseswill be based on adults from theAllier reproducing in fish farmsand on adults returning from theocean.

High Rhine

Since 1999, young salmon fromthe Adour-Nive river system inthe southwest of France are re-leased into the Swiss HighRhine. They are no longer putinto the tributaries St. Albanteich,Birs and Wiese, as was the casein the past years, but releasednear the confluence of theserivers with the High Rhine.

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

Phot

o: B

ern

d S

tem

mer

Salmon rearing in the Hasper dam

S u c c e s s c o n t r o l

22

From the very beginning on, thesalmon programme was accom-panied by success control and re-search. This helped to establishand improve the effectiveness ofstocking and protection meas-ures. In this connection, as wellas in case of stocking measures,voluntary fisheries associationsand nature protection associa-tions had a large part in the suc-cess.

In its “Ecological Master Plan” theICPR demanded success control,such as fishery biological invento-ries and monitoring of new fishpassages in order to prove theRhine ecosystem improvement(ICPR 1991).

Monitoring the fish populationby drawing up an inventory ofspawning grounds, fishery bio-logical inventories based on elec-tro-fishing and fyke nets, markingtests and monitoring stations fig-ure among the success controlmeasures within Salmon 2020.So far, there are six permanent

44monitor ing stat ions formigratory fish. The ICPR recom-mends to install such monitoringstations near the estuary of eachlarger tributary.

Fish viewing window in the Iffezheim monitoring station

Iffezheim monitoring station

Buisdorf monitoring station

Phot

o: S

tVA

Köln

-Bon

nPh

oto:

ASR

Str

asbo

urg

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

Future permanent monitoring stations(six already exist)

Rhine section Country River branch, Weirtributary

Rhine delta NL IJssel WestervoortLek HagesteinWaal Woudrichem

Lower Rhine D / NRW Dhünn AuermühleSieg BuisdorfAgger Troisdorf

Middle Rhine D / RP Moselle Koblenz barrageL Lahn Lahnstein barrage

Sauer Rosport-Ralingen

Upper Rhine F / D main stream IffezheimF / D main stream GambsheimF Ill StraßburgF Bruche Avolsheim

High Rhine CH – –

23

Since 1992, migratory fish aremonitored in the Dutch Rhinedelta. At selected locations, testcatches are carried out with netsand the by-catches of profession-al fishermen are evaluated. Be-tween 1994 and 2003 727 adultsalmon and 1327 sea trout wereobserved (HARTGERS & BUIJSE, WINTER

and others 2003).Between 1996 and 2000 theroutes taken by migratory fish re-turning from the North Sea andtravelling through the Rhinedelta were subjected to telemet-ric research. To this end, sea trout

and salmon were equipped withradio transmitters. On their wayupstream, 34 of the 580 seatrout passed by the estuary dam,103 by the Nieuwe Waterwegand 70 by the sluices on the Har-ingvliet (BIJ DE VAATE et al. 2003). Sofar, 12 of these sea trout and onesalmon have been registeredheading upstream the R. Sieg to-wards the spawning grounds. It has been proved that salmonand sea trout smolts marked inNorthrhine-Westphalia andBaden-Württemberg havereached the North Sea.

Many migratory fish, amongthem a growing number of rarespecies such as thwaite shadand houting have been caughtin the Rhine delta and in theIJsselsea (WINTER et al. 2003).

Along the Northrhine-West-phalian Lower Rhine research in-to which migratory fish are re-turning is carried through in thetributary Lippe. A permanent mi-gratory fish monitoring stationhas been built at the lowermostweir across the R. Sieg near Buis-dorf entailing costs of some

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) *

Sea trout (Salmo trutta)

Allice shad (Alosa alosa) *

Thwaite shad (Alosa fallax) *

D i v e r s i t y o f m i g r a t o r y f i s h

Which species return to the Rhine?

Phot

os: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg, a

us

Vog

el&

Hof

er, S

tefa

n S

taas

, Ber

nd

Ste

mm

erPh

oto:

Pet

er R

ey

† Extinct in the Rhine individuals returning natural reproduction increasing stocks* = FFH-species according to directive 92/43/EEC (see p. 6 this brochure)

Houting(Coregonusoxyrhynchus)*

Common sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) † *

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) *

River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) *

Eel (Anguilla anguilla):another migratory fish which however spawns in the sea and migratesupstream rivers at the stage of a juvenile fish.

24

650,000 Euro. It was taken intooperation in the beginning of2000 and consists of a baskettrap, two rooms for keepingliving fish as well as installationsto measure fish and collect theireggs.The station has proved to be per-formant. Apart from migratoryfish – 564 salmon, 205 sea troutand downstream migrating riverlamprey – many other fish specieswere registered until the end of2003, among them barbel, nase,chub and pike. The highest num-ber of upriver migrating salmon

Other fish speciesGrayling (Thymallus thymallus) 5Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) 109Brook trout (Salvellinus fontinalis) 5Barbel (Barbus barbus) 23.994Perch (Perca fluviatilis) 21Bream (Abramis brama) 12.109Family of bream (small) (Abramis spec.) 4 83Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) 624Graskarp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) 4Bullhead (Cottus gobio) 3Gudgeon (Gobio gobio) 6White bream (Blicca bjoerkna) 135Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) 88Pike (Esox lucius) 1Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) 3Carp (Cyprinus carpio) 10Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) 8Nase (Chondrostoma nasus) 7.366Burbot (Lota lota) 1Asp (Aspius aspius) 6.894Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salmo gairdneri) 18Roach (Rutilus rutilus) 1.611Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) 6Salmonids (small) (Salmonidae)5 73Tench (Tinca tinca) 10Bleak (Alburnus alburnus)2 317Wels (Siluris glanis) 15Vimba (Vimba vimba) 4Pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) 20White-eye bream (Abramis sapa) 402Sum6: 34 species 56.862

1 Counting periods: 13.6. - 31.12.00, 1.1. - 31.12.01, 4.3. - 31.12.02, 1.1. - 31.12.03.2 Eel and bleak only partly counted.3 Thwaite shad not identified with certainty, perhaps allice shad4 Specimen belonging to the family of the bream below 30 cm length cannot be identified with certainty (bream, white-eye bream, zope).

5 Salmonids below 25 cm length cannot be identified with certainty.6 The sum of fish counted represents a minimum number of upstream migrating fishusing the passage.

Jumping salmon at the Sieg weir near Buisdorf

Counts at the Iffezheim barrage between 2000 and 20031

Long distance migratory fish

Eel (Anguilla anguilla)2 1.257Thwaite shad (Alosa fallax)3 1Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) 318Allice shad (Alosa alosa) 11Sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta) 988Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) 342

Upriver migrating barbel

Phot

o: P

eter

Rey

Phot

o: O

. Nie

pag

enke

mpe

r

was registered in October ofevery year. Grilse, that is early re-turning salmon prevailed, meas-uring between 70 and 75 cmand weighing about 3 kg afterone year ocean residence .Further permanent monitoring

stations have been installed nearTroisdorf on the R. Agger and atthe Auermühle mill in the R.Dhünn.Between 2000 and 2002 theFrench and the Germans have

25

by turns counted the fish caughtin fyke-net in the monitoring sta-tion of the fish passage Iffezheimon the Upper Rhine (s. p. 17, 22).This was done in close co-opera-tion between the AssociationSaumon-Rhin (ASR), the ConseilSupérieur de la Pêche, the Lan-desfischereiverband Baden andthe Regierungspräsidium Karls-ruhe. Until the end of 2001, theBundesanstalt für Gewässer-kunde and from 2002 on theASR monitored upstream fishmigration with video cameras.Since 2000, far more than50.000 fish belonging to at least34 species have used this fishpassage. Among them, morethan 300 adult salmon, almost1,000 sea trout, more than 300sea lamprey, 11 allice shad and anew species in the Rhine, morethan 400 white-eye bream.

From the Rhine delta tothe Lower RhineIn 1999, 81, respectively 47 seatrout were caught in the R. Siegsystem and in the Dhünn, a trib-utary to the Wupper. 5 of themwere marked individuals andrevealed their migration route: 4 originated from the "Projectmigratie zeeforel" in the Nether-lands which means that they hadbeen marked in the Rhine estu-ary, the other one had beenmarked in Denmark. Since 1999,sea lamprey have repeatedly dugredds in the R. Sieg and Dhünn.

From the Middle Rhineinto the tributariesBy the end of 2003, three sealamprey had been registeredafter depositing eggs in the R.Saynbach. Since 1996, sea trout,some of which were transportedto the subnatural Lahn tributaryDörsbach, have been caught atthe Lahnstein weir. Since 1992,

519 sea trout have been caughtand marked in the monitoringstation at the Moselle barrage inKoblenz before being releasedfurther upstream. In April 2000,the first two river lamprey werecaught in the Hessian R. Wisper.They had presumably migratedupstream to spawn. River lam-prey have also repeatedly beenspotted in the R. Nette.

From the Upper Rhineinto the Black Forestand AlsaceSea lamprey, a surprisingly highnumber of which migrate up-stream using the Iffezheim fishpassage, have been equippedwith radio transmitters before be-ing released into the R. Rench.Evidence has been given of oneindividual which managed topass by the vertical slot pass atthe Memprechtshofen mill.Redds dug by sea lamprey havebeen spotted in the R. Murg aswell as in the Ill river system.

From the Upper to theHigh RhineIn 2003, upon request of theSwiss Bundesamt für Umwelt,Wald und Landschaft, the Associ-ation Saumon-Rhin caught seatrout in the Iffezheim fish pas-sage, marked them with radiotransmitters and released theminto the Old bed of the Rhine up-stream of Kembs (see map p. 17)in order to find the answers totwo questions:1. How do fish behave when

encountering the barrages onthe High Rhine? - Some seatrout used the fish passage toby-pass the Rheinfelden hy-droelectric power plant, someeven used the navigationlocks of the Birsfelden andAugst-Wyhlen power plantson their way upstream.

2. Do fish migrate into the HighRhine tributaries Birs, Ergolzand Wiese for spawning? -Yes, evident proof was given(ASR 2004).

Downstream migrationAccording to estimates, the sur-vival rates from the release ofsalmon alevins to the down-stream migrating smolts vary be-tween 5 and 10 %. Therefore,the “smolt production” is estimat-ed on the basis of the sum of re-leased alevins.

Lower RhineDuring the past years, up to100,000 salmon smolts annuallymigrated downstream theNorthrhine-Westphalian Rhinetributaries into which alevins arereleased and travelled to theocean. In 2003, some 15,000smolts migrated downstream theSieg river system in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Middle RhineIn 2003, approximately 8,000smolts were raised in the Sayn-bach river system, 500 of themdescending from natural repro-duction (see p. 27). The same year,some 2000 smolts left the Sauerriver system in Luxemburg.

Upper RhineAccording to estimates, annually25 – 45,000 smolts migratedownstream from the FrenchRhine catchment. Since 1992,electro-fishing methods havebeen used to monitor the qualityof release sites and of juvenilehabitats in the Old bed of theRhine and the Ill river system. Theresults are as encouraging asthose in the release rivers inBaden, where growth of juvenilesalmon has been stated to bevery satisfactory.

26

Return f rom theocean

In the Rhine delta, the Dutchhave detected adult salmon since1994, by the end of 2003 theirnumber had grown to morethan 700.

In 1990, decennia after the oldstock of Rhine salmon had diedout, the first salmon migrated up-stream and unerringly swamfrom the ocean through theLower Rhine and into the Siegwhere stocking exercises hadstarted as early as 1990. Sincethen, there is evidence that by2003, more than 1000 salmonhave migrated upstream theLower Rhine and its tributaries.Since 1998, individual adult

salmon even migrate upstreamthe R. Lippe, even though juve-nile fish have never been re-leased into this river. Salmon alsostarted colonising the R. Ruhr be-fore stocking exercises started inthis river.

During 1996 to 2003, evidencewas given of some 250 salmonmigrating upstream the tributar-ies to the Middle Rhine inRhineland Palatinate and Hesse,most of them were found in theSaynbach river system (101).Since 2001, they even stray intothe R. Nette to spawn, eventhough juvenile salmon havenever been released into thisriver. On the other hand, theweirs in the rivers Lahn andMoselle disrupt upstream migra-

tion, only few returning salmonsucceed in travelling through thenavigation locks. Since 1992, 46returning salmon have beencaught in the Koblenz fish pas-sage on the Moselle and havebeen released further upstream.In the R. Lahn they are caught atthe foot of the Lahnstein weirand brought to the IG Lahn fishhatchery where they are used forartificial reproduction.

Since 1995, evidence has beengiven of some 379 salmon re-turning to the Upper Rhine. Afterthe Iffezheim fish passage wasput into operation in 2000,salmon have also been identifiedin the R. Rench in Baden and inthe Alsacian Ill river system.

Return of salmon to the Rhine (see p. 19)

Section of River branches Stocking Stocking Return Returning Firstthe Rhine or tributaries exercise exercise1 start salmon2 larvae3

start (until 2003 in million) (until 2003 Individuals)

1 Juvenile salmon, above all alevins, about 3-5 cm length, able to feed until some weeks old.2 Salmon returning from the North Sea, about 50-100 cm length, 2 to 5 years old.3 Salmon larvae of naturally reproducing returning salmon.

Rhine delta

Lower Rhine

Middle Rhine

Upper Rhine

High Rhine

Sum

Waal, Lek, IJssel (NL)

Lippe (NRW)Ruhr (NRW)Wupper (NRW)Sieg (NRW + RP)

Ahr (RP)Nette (RP)Saynbach (RP)Moselle/Sauer, Prüm, Kyll(L, RP)Lahn/Mühlb., Dill, Weil(RP, He, NRW)Wisper (He)

Main/Kinzig, Main +

Rodach (He, Bay)Alb, Murg, Rench, Kinzig (BW)Old bed of Rhine, Ill/Brucheetc. (F)

Rhine + Ergolz, Birs, Wiese etc. (CH)

–

–200319931988

1995–

19941992

1994

1999

1994

1994

1991

1995

–

–0,022,109,90

0,82

–0,750,50

0,90

0,18

1,20

0,34

2,80

0,60

ca.20millon.

1994

1998200219981990

1999200019961995

1997

2002

–

2000

1995

–

727

54

92991

34> 4

13846

36

4

–

4

367

–

2450

–

––

20021994

200020012000

–2000

2003

–

–

1997

–

27

All in all 2450 returning salmonhave been identified beyond anydoubt. The accurate number of re-turning salmon might be ten timesas high. That means, that perhaps20,000 salmon have migrated intothe Rhine river system since 1990.With an estimated release of 20million juvenile salmon since1988, and a maximum down-stream migration of 2 millionsmolts, salmon would, accordingto this estimate, have reachedthe expected return rate of 1per cent (see p. 12, 25).

Natural reproductionIt is really true: salmon do repro-duce naturally in the Rhine sys-tem! In 1994, the first salmon lar-vae were detected in natural reddsdug into the Northrhine-West-phalian Bröl, a tributary to the R.Sieg on the Lower Rhine. Then adult salmon chose to digtheir redds into more and morebrooks. These natural nurserygrounds are called Bruche,Dhünn, Naafbach, Wisper, Ahr,Nette, Saynbach, Brexbach, Elb-bach, Sieg, Nister and Wisser-bach (see table p. 26) .In the winter 1998/99, 12 reddsdug by big salmonids were iden-tified in the R. Dhünn, a tributary

to the Wupper on the LowerRhine. In the Sieg system, 9 weredetected in the winter 1999/2000.In the R. Naafbach, a tributary tothe Agger in the Sieg system, alarge number of naturally repro-duced salmon alevins wascaught and genetically tested in2001, after their parents hadbeen observed depositing eggssome months earlier. Since 1999,natural reproduction has beenobserved every year in the Siegriver system in Rhineland-Palati-nate.A research project carried out bythe Northrhine-Westphalian min-istry of environment looks intothe question what rivers must belike for salmon to spawn natural-ly. A pilot study carried out onthe R. Bröl, a tributary to theSieg, is aimed at producing guide-lines for Cleaning up salmonspawning rivers.

In the winter of 1999/2000, aredd was detected in the R. Ahron the Middle Rhine. A genetictest carried out on an alevin takenfrom this redd revealed it to be asalmon. In the Mühlgraben nearHeimersheim on the Ahr threenaturally reproduced salmon parrwere identified.In the R. Nette, a tributary to theRhine located between Ahr andMoselle, straying salmon havebeen observed since 2001, andthey reproduce naturally.In 2000, salmon stocking wasstopped in the Brexbach, a tribu-tary to the Saynbach. Neverthe-less, annually 100 to 500 natural-ly reproduced smolts migrate

downstream to the ocean! Since2001, some 10 to 20 % of theannually downstream migratingsmolts in the Saynbach river sys-tem are descendants of naturallyreproducing adult salmon.It is highly probable that, in2003, the first naturally repro-duced salmon have migratedupriver from the ocean in or-der to spawn in the Saynbachwhere they have participatedin digging more than 20 redds.It seems as if, for the firsttime, the life cycle of a newRhine salmon population hasbeen concluded.In the winter of 1999/2000, nat-ural salmon reproduction wasproved in the Mühlbach, a tribu-tary to the Rhine. However, theparent fish had been caught inthe Ahr and transported to theMühlbach to which salmon haveno natural access.Since 2002, salmon are returningto the smallest release river, theHessian Wisper, and natural re-production has been proved.

On the Upper Rhine, naturalsalmon and sea trout reproduc-tion has been observed in the Al-sacian Ill river system since 1997,and since 2000 migratory fishhave unobstructed access to thisriver system by using the Iffez-heim fish passage. In 2000, 21redds of large salmonids weredetected in the Ill tributaryBruche. In 2001, 37 were detect-ed in the Bruche and 7 in the Altorfside channel, in each of the years2002 and 2003 more than 200salmon redds were counted.

Salmon spawning ground

Evidence of salmon hatch by combiningdrift net and electro fishing

Salmon alevin

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rgPh

oto:

BFS

, Jör

g S

chn

eid

erPh

oto:

ASR

Str

asbo

urg

A s s e s s m e n t a n d C o n c l u s i o n

28

Success

The results of the programme onmigratory fish in the Rhine riversystem which started as Salmon2000 and is being continuedwithin Rhine 2020 are impres-sive, in particular concerning thereintroduction of the extinctRhine salmon.

� Returning adultsFor years, the number of adultsalmon returning into the Rhinefrom the ocean has been increas-ing. During 1990 to end 2003,2450 salmon travelling upstreamwere counted. It is certain that thereal number of upstream migrat-ing individuals is much higher.

� Natural reproductionSalmon again reproduce natural-ly in some of the tributaries andmore and more naturally repro-duced smolts migrate down-stream towards the sea. Evidence

has been given that salmon re-produce naturally in at least 12release rivers. "Straying" salmonstart to colonize the tributaries.Many of the salmon released arealready the descendants of par-ent fish from which eggs werecollected on their way upstreamfrom the ocean.

� Iffezheim fish passageCounts at the new Iffezheim fishpassage show that, during thepast three years, more than50,000 fish belonging to 34species have migrated upstream.Not only long distance migratoryfish such as salmon, sea trout, sealamprey and allice shad use thefish ladder, but this is also true ofmany middle-distance migratoryfish. The results prove that it wasworth while to invest such largesums into Europe’s biggest fishpassage. Since the year 2000, ac-

cess to the Alsacian Ill and the R.Rench in Baden has been openfor migratory fish.

� Monitoring stationsThere are six permanent monitor-ing stations for migratory fish inthe Rhine river system. Others willfollow, e.g. at the Gambsheim fishpassage on the Upper Rhine,which will be operational in 2006.

� RenaturingStructural improvements carriedout in smaller Rhine tributariesshow that a lot can be done formigratory fish at rather low ex-penses. Modifications and re-moval of weirs and renaturationof river banks have turned manyRhine tributaries into suitablesalmon habitats.

P r o b l e m s

� Weirs and barragesMany weirs and hydroelectricpower plants still limit the move-ment of migratory fish in theRhine river system. There are 9large barrages in the UpperRhine upstream of Iffezheim andin the Great Alsace Canal and 10more in the High Rhine.

There is too little water flowingthrough the old bed of theRhine, the most important poten-tial salmon habitat in the UpperRhine area. Within the renewal ofthe concession for the hydroelec-tric power plant Kembs, the fu-ture minimal flow will be in-

Jumping salmon (red circle) Ph

oto:

Jan

Kam

man

29

creased, and adapted to naturalflow conditions. But still severalbarrages without any function-ing fish passages disrupt migra-tion.In the main Rhine tributaries, theR. Moselle, Lahn and Main thereare too many barrages withoutsuitable fish ladders.

� TurbinesDuring their downstream migra-tion, many juvenile salmon aswell as other fish, in particularadult eel die in the turbines of hy-droelectric power plants. Chainsof such power plants have partic-ularly noxious effects.

� Nursery groundsMany potential spawning andnursery grounds have great defi-ciencies, e.g. partly silted gravelbeds, stabilized and unnaturalriver banks. At times, water quali-ty does not fulfil the high de-mands of salmon and sea trout.Organic pollution my harm theincubation and rearing of salmoneggs and alevins in the gravelbed.

� Monitoring stationsMore monitoring stations areneeded to observe migratoryfish, e.g. on the R. Ill near Stras-bourg and the R. Bruche atAvolsheim. In particular, they arerequired for recognizing markedsalmon returning to the rivers.

� Stocking exerciseThe targeted stable salmon popu-lations in the Rhine system havenot yet been achieved. For someyears still, juvenile fish will haveto be released. The origin of salmon used forstocking and their cross-breedingmay be genetically problematic.

Summing up

Constructing the Iffezheim (accomplished in 2000) and Gambsheim(construction started in 2004) fish passages is not enough. Further fishpassages must follow, by-passing the barrages on the Upper and HighRhine in order to open up the way for migratory fish into the Old bedof the Rhine and to Switzerland.

‚Salmon ladders’ are required to by-pass weirs in the tributaries Moselle,Lahn, Main and many of their smaller tributaries.

Many salmon ‚nursery grounds’ in the tributaries to the Rhine river sys-tem must be cleaned up, e.g. by protecting and developing wide riverbank stripes and by enhancing river dynamics. Suitable habitats for mi-gratory fish will only develop once the rivers are given more room.

Hydroelectric power plants must urgently be equipped with protectionfacilities reducing fish mortality.

More monitoring stations are needed at the estuaries of the large Rhinetributaries.

In future, the coordination of salmon releases into the Rhine system willbe improved. Fish of different stocks will no longer be cross-bred in arti-ficial reproduction.

In future, stocking exercises will no longer be necessary in rivers withsufficient natural reproduction.

The target is wild salmon in the Rhine in 2020.

Phot

o: A

SR S

tras

bou

rg

B i b l i o g r a p h y

30

(also see www.iksr.org / publications)

ASR = ASSOCIATION SAUMON-RHIN (2004): Suivi par radiopistage de la migration de truites de mer sur le Haut-Rhin en dans la ré-gion de Bâle (CH). – Rapport intermédiaire pour la Campagne 2003/04. – 46 p. + annexes, Strasbourg.

ASR (2004): Bulletin d’information, Saumon-Rhin Infos n°10, 6 p.

BIJ DE VAATE, A., BREUKELAAR, A. W., VRIESE, T., DE LAAK, G. & DIJKERS, C. (2003): Sea trout migration in the Rhine delta. –Journal of Biology 63 : 892-908.

CLAIR, B., SCHAEFFER, F., EDEL, G., EL BETTAH, M. (ASR) (2003): Suivi de la reproduction des migrateurs amphihalins en Alsace:Lamproie marine – Saumon atlantique, campagne 2003, 30 p. + annexes.

EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR) (2003): Reproduction des grands salmonidés migrateurs – Campagne 2001-2002 – Première miseen évidence de la reproduction de la Lamproie marine, 17 p. + annexes.

EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F., PASTURAUD, O. (ASR) (2001): Synthèse des actions techniques réalisées par Saumon-Rhin au cours del’année 2000, 29 p. + annexes.

EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F., VAUCLIN, V. (ASR & Conseil Supérieur de la Pêche) (2002): Suivi annuel des peuplements dejuvéniles de saumon atlantique en Alsace. Résultats 2001, 22 p. + annexes.

EL BETTAH, M., EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR), (janvier 2003): Evaluation des habitats potentiellement favorables au saumonatlantique sur la Doller, 36 p. + annexes.

EL BETTAH, M., EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR) (juillet 2003): Evaluation des habitats potentiellement favorables au saumonatlantique sur la Fecht, 37 p. + annexes.

EL BETTAH, M., EDEL, G., SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR) (juillet 2003): Evaluation des habitats potentiellement favorables au saumonatlantique sur la Lièpvrette, 35 p. + annexes.

HARTGERS, E. M. & BUIJSE, A. D. (2002): The role of Lake IJsselmeer, a closed-off estuary of the River Rhine, in rehabilitation ofsalmonid populations. – Fisheries Management and Ecology 9: 127-138.

HUMBORG, G. (1990): Der Rheinlachs als Indikator für den Zustand des Ökosystems Rhein - Literaturstudie. - IKSR-Programm: "Rück-kehr der Langdistanz-Wanderfische in den Rhein”, Teilprojekt: "Zuwanderungsmöglichkeiten und Laichplätzeam Oberrhein”. 71 S., Univ. Karlsruhe.

IKSR = Internationale Kommission zum Schutz des Rheins (HG.) (1987): Aktionsprogramm "Rhein”. – APR-Bericht Nr. 1,18 S. + Anlagen, Straßburg / Koblenz.

IKSR (1991): Ökologisches Gesamtkonzept für den Rhein. - Bericht Nr. 24, Text: A. Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig, Farbbroschüre,23 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1994): Lachs 2000. - Bericht Nr. 61, Text B. Froehlich-Schmitt, Farbbroschüre, 32 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1996): Lachs 2000 - Stand der Projekte Anfang 1996, Bericht Nr. 70, Text B. Froehlich-Schmitt, 48 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1998): Bestandsaufnahme der ökologisch wertvollen Gebiete am Rhein und erste Schritte auf dem Weg zum Biotopverbund –Bericht Nr. 94, 71 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1998): Rhein – Strom mit Beziehungen. - Bericht Nr. 98, Text B. Froehlich-Schmitt, Farbbroschüre, 32 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1998): Lachs 2000 – Wanderfische als Erfolgsindikatoren für die ökologische Wiederherstellung der Habitate und derDurchgängigkeit des Rheingebietes. – IKSR-Bericht Nr. 99, 12 S., Colmar / Koblenz.

IKSR (1999): 2. Internationales Rhein-Symposium "Lachs 2000” 10.-12.3.99 Rastatt. - Bericht Nr. 102, 311 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (1999): Lachs 2000 – Ist der Rhein wieder ein Fluss für Lachse? - Bericht Nr. 103, Text B. Froehlich-Schmitt, Farbbroschüre,64 S., Koblenz.

31

IKSR (2001): Rhein-Ministerkonferenz 2001. Rhein 2020 – Programm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung des Rheins. - Bericht Nr. 116,Farbbroschüre, 28 S., Koblenz.

IKSR (2002): Rheinfischfauna 2000 - Was lebt zwischen dem Rheinfall bei Schaffhausen und der Nordsee. – 68. Plenarsitzung – 2./3. Juli 2002, Luxemburg, Bericht Nr. 127, 55 S. , Koblenz.

IKSR (2003): Stromaufwärts - Bilanz Aktionsprogramm Rhein. – Bericht Nr. 139, Text B. Froehlich-Schmitt,Farbbroschüre, 31 S., Koblenz.

LE CREN, E. D. (1985): The biology of the sea trout. - Summary of a symposium held at Plas Menai, North Wales,24-26 October 1984. - Atlantic Salmon Trust, 42 S., Moulin, Pitlochry.

LFV BW = Landesfischereiverband Baden-Württemberg (2002): Wiedereinbürgerung des Lachses am Oberrhein - Projektziele bis2006. - Autoren R. Höfer u. U. Riedmüller, Farbbroschüre, 51 S. + Tabellenanhang, Freiburg.

LÖBF (2003): Natur für Lachs & Co. - Herausgeber: Landesanstalt für Ökologie, Bodenordnung und Forsten NRW, Farbbroschüre,20 S., Recklinghausen.

MILLS, D. (1989): Ecology and management of Alantic Salmon. - 351 S., London & New York.

MUNLV (2001): Wanderfischprogramm Nordrhein-Westfalen - Statusbericht zur ersten Programmphase 1998 bis 2002. Herausgeber:Ministerium für Umwelt und Naturschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz des Landes NRW,Farbbroschüre 110 S., Düsseldorf.

MUNLV (2003): Wanderfischprogramm Nordrhein-Westfalen - Phase 2003 bis 2006. - Farbbroschüre 29 S., Düsseldorf.

PEDROLI, J.-C., ZAUGG, C. & B. (AQUARIUS) (1991): Aktionsprogramm Rhein - Rückkehr der Langdistanz-Wanderfische in denRhein; IKSR, Projekt Nr. 6 Schweizerischer Beitrag, Literaturstudium, 142 S., Neuchâtel.

REICHSAMT DES INNERN (Hg.) (1886): Vertrag zwischen Deutschland, den Niederlanden und der Schweiz, betreffend dieRegelung der Lachsfischerei im Stromgebiete des Rheins. Vom 30. Juni 1885. – Reichs-Gesetzblatt No 18,S. 192-202, Berlin.

ROCHE, P. (1990): Le Saumon du Rhin: Données historiques. - Conseil Supérieur de la Pêche, 65 S., Montigny Les Metz.

SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR) (2003): Bilan du piégeage sur la passe à poissons d'Iffezheim en 2002 (4 mars - 31 décembre 2002),32 p. + annexes.

SCHAEFFER, F. (ASR) (2004): Bilan du piégeage et des opérations de communication réalisés sur la passe à poissons d'Iffezheim en2003 (1er janvier - 31 décembre 2003), 34 p. + annexes.

SCHAEFFER, F., EDEL, G. (ASR) (2001): Bilan du piégeage sur la passe à poissons d'Iffezheim en 2000 (13 juin - 31 décembre 2000),21 p. + annexes.

SCHAEFFER, F., EDEL, G. (ASR) (2002): Bilan du piégeage et des opérations de communication réalisés sur la passe à poissons d'If-fezheim en 2001 (1er janvier - 31 décembre 2001), 33 p. + annexes.

SCHAEFFER, F., EDEL, G., EL BETTAH, M. (ASR) (2003): Suivi de la reproduction des migrateurs amphihalins en Alsace: Lamproie marine - Saumon atlantique, campagne 2002, 25 p. + annexes.

SCHNEIDER, J., JÖRGENSEN, L., MOLLS,F., NEMITZ,A., KÖHLER, C. & BLASEL, K. (2004): Notwendigkeit und konzeptionelleAusrichtung eines effektiven Monitorings bei der Lachswiederansielung im Rhein – das Monitoring-Einheiten-Konzept. – Fischer & Teichwirt 2/2004, S. 528-531.

SCHULTE-WÜLWER-LEIDIG, A. (2000): Wiedereinführung des Lachses in das Rheingebiet. In: VDSF, Fisch des Jahres 2000 - Der Lachs. Verlag M. Faste, 199 S., Kassel.

SHEARER, W. M. (1992): The Atlantic Salmon: natural history, exploitation and future management. - Fishing News Book,244 S. Oxford.

VDSF = Verband Deutscher Sportfischer e.V. (2003): Lachse in Deutschland - Dokumentation der Wiedereinbürgerungsprojektedes Atlantischen Lachses (Salmo salar L.) in Deutschland. - Farbbroschüre 135 S., Offenbach.

WINTER, H. V., TIEN, N. S. H. & WIEGERINCK, J. A. M. (2003): Jaarrapportage passieve vismonitoring zoete rijkswateren: samen-stelling van de visstand op basis van vangsten met fuiken en zalmsteken in 2002. – RIVO rapport C025/03.

Back: LU59813 | 18.05.1984The mouth of the R. Ahr at Remagen-Kripp© LMZ RP/Gustav Rittstieg

Cover: LU76386 | 25.07.1988The valley of the Middle Rhine betweenKauf and Oberwesel with Pfalzgrafenstein© LMZ RP/Gustav Rittstieg