3 fish passes, 4 locations, 5 measures: between 2016 and 2020, project manager VERBUND worked with partners to implement extensive improvements to waterbodies and species diversity on the Danube in Austria. The measures represent so-called “ecological stepping stones” and interconnect four Natura 2000 areas.

Europe’s longest fish pass was built between 2016 and 2018 at Ottensheim power plant. Over a distance of 14.2 kilometres, it creates a means for diverting around the Danube power plant as well as new habitat.

Fish swim around the Danube power plant at Greifenstein using a 4.4 km-long parallel channel. The project connects to the "Gießgang Greifenstein" and supplements the artificially created wetland with additional habitat.

Right below the exit of the Ottensheim fish pass, at the end of the Abwinden-Asten barrage area, a ballast island was created with gravel fill. The near-natural bank structure provides protection and habitat for juvenile fish.

The most recent sub-project is the fish pass at the Danube power plant Abwinden-Asten (Upper Austria). A near-natural bypass stream enables fish to migrate around the power plant and creates additional habitat on the Danube.