Want to learn about Vienna’s aquatic artery? The Infocenter Liesingbach is your gateway. It tells the tale of a river that shapes a district. The Liesingbach, also known as the Liesing, stretches 30 kilometers. It journeys from the Vienna Woods through Vienna. The creek gives its name to Liesing. This is Vienna’s 23rd district. Finally, it meets the Schwechat in Lower Austria.
Here at the Infocenter Liesingbach, you can uncover the story of Liesing’s transformation. Once prone to flooding, the district has undergone significant changes. A third of Liesing is a natural area. The Liesingbach flows through it. This river has always been vital. The Reiche Liesing flows from the west. It is joined by the Gütenbach from Lainzer Tiergarten. The Kalksburger Graben joins underground. Then, it merges with the Dürre Liesing. Together, they form the Liesing.
Since 1997, efforts have been made to restore the Liesingbach. About half of the river’s 18.4-kilometer stretch has been renatured. It is a haven for people and nature. The banks are being redesigned. This brings more green space for locals and visitors. Walkers, runners, and cyclists enjoy enhanced quality of life.
Around 200 new trees are being planted. These include maple, elm, and linden. Shrubs like hawthorn and bird cherry will be planted. Small bays and shallow water areas are created. These are ideal habitats for young fish. They also benefit insect larvae. Other water-bound creatures thrive here.
The Infocenter Liesingbach highlights climate-friendly measures. The EU-Project LIFE EnCAM reduces environmental impact. This includes reducing CO2 emissions. Old paving stones are crushed on-site. This recycled material becomes the base for the Liesingbach’s riverbed.
You may wonder: How does the Liesingbach stay clean? An additional rainwater channel is being built. This prevents pollutants from entering the river. The Speicherbecken Gelbe Haide in Inzersdorf helps with this effort.
The Liesing’s revitalization is a step-by-step process. Construction started in 2020. It is expected to continue until 2027. The Infocenter Liesingbach showcases these construction phases. Each phase focuses on a different section of the river. The entire project costs about 85 million euros.
The Liesingbach has seen completed sections. These include the Renaturierung Willergasse in 1997. The Renaturierung Liesingbach Unterlauf with Kanalbau was completed between 2002 and 2006. In 2012, the Renaturierung Jakob-Sommerbauer-Straße improved fish passage. The Renaturierung Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße finished in 2015. The Renaturierung Gütenbachmündung concluded in 2016.
The Infocenter Liesingbach shows how urban waterways can be restored. The Liesingbach shapes the identity of the 23rd district. It gives a greener, more vibrant space for all.