Wasserwirtschaftsamt: New display board on the Saale river

The aim is to raise visitors' awareness of the development of the Saale in the urban environment and the risk of flooding.

"I find the depiction of the former and current course of the Saale in one picture fascinating. This creates an understanding of how people shape and reshape their environment," said Mayor Eva Döhla. She thanked the water management office for the excellent presentation of the river and its functions for the city.

Comparison with 1905

A comparison of the situation on the Saale in Hof around 1905 and today can be seen. The function of the Saale and the uses of the floodplain have changed significantly over this period. In the past, water power was used mainly by mills and the floodplain was used for bleaching and washing. At the same time, the Saale and its mill canals were used for wastewater disposal. With increasing industrialization, the quality of the Saale deteriorated more and more and it became a stinking cesspool. The construction of the wastewater collector at the Hof sewage treatment plant, the addition of water from the Förmitz reservoir and initial renaturation measures in the 1990s significantly improved the water quality again, making the Saale floodplains popular for recreational use. However, in order to achieve a good condition as a habitat for animals and plants, further work needs to be done on structure and quality.

Gabriele Merz, Head of the Hof Water Management Authority: "When society is not doing so well economically, the protection of water bodies sometimes takes a back seat in social discussions. However, bodies of water are the lifelines of our environment. Here in the middle of the city with a view of the Saale is the right place to raise awareness of how the protection and use of water bodies are connected and how we are constantly intervening in this system."

To illustrate the situation, the plaque features a number of historical images provided by the Hof city archives. The board also contains references to the Hof Water Management Office's podcast on various water management topics in the region: https://www.wwa-ho.bayern.de/wir/100jahre/podcast.htm

Flood protection

Since industrialization, more and more buildings have been constructed in the Saale floodplains. The risk of flooding for buildings and infrastructure has been significantly reduced by the construction of flood protection dykes and walls since the 1990s. However, a risk remains even in the natural floodplain during rare floods. In Bavaria, the Flood Information Service (HND) is responsible for flood warnings and flood forecasts as well as information on current water levels on rivers and lakes. The HND provides information on the current situation and warnings on its website: https://www.hnd.bayern.de/warnungen