As of: March 29, 2024, 7:11 a.m
By: Alois Ostler
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The Walchensee power plant with an outlet canal: The “Save the Isar Now” association hopes that the Free State will buy back the hydropower division of the operator Uniper. © Uniper
The concerns of “Save the Isar Now” are more relevant than ever. The association, which was founded 50 years ago, once again took a clear position at the most recent general meeting.
The “Save the Isar Now” association takes a stand on the new allocation of water rights
Lenggries - Chairman Karl Probst called for a “good solution” in the upcoming new allocation of water rights for the Walchensee power plant in 2030. In Probst's opinion, “the Free State of Bavaria should seize the opportunity” and reacquire the hydropower division of the listed group, which is currently owned by Uniper.
As is well known, after financial difficulties, the federal government temporarily took over the majority of the shares. “I still hope that the company will be bought back so that one day you don’t have to negotiate with the Sheikh of Qatar as a new investor,” said Probst.
District Administrator Josef Niedermaier considers nationalization of the Walchensee power plant to be unlikely
The Tölz district administrator, on the other hand, considers nationalization to be “relatively unlikely”. Josef Niedermaier is a member of the club himself and explained his point of view in the Lenggrieser Alpenfestsaal. Looking back at the Bavarian state elections last fall, he emphasized: “Before October 2023, a few politicians went around and, against their better judgment, promised to buy the Walchensee power plant.” The oft-cited reversion - i.e. the transfer of ownership back to the Free State - also occurred at the Walchensee power plant out of the question because this was not listed in the approval notice.
In particular, Niedermaier made it clear that with regard to the upcoming proceedings, “a lot of nonsense is being said by politicians as well as by associations and specialist committees”. Above all, “nothing at all will be put out to tender here,” the district administrator continued. There is a water right, but the approval notice will not be automatically extended. If someone other than the current company wants to operate the Walchensee power plant, “then they have to buy the plant from Uniper.”
According to Niedermaier, a price must be determined in advance. But that is anything but easy because it has not yet been determined what is required in the new approval notice. Uniper has made it clear several times “that it wants to continue operating the power plant”. However, this has not yet been requested in writing. The crucial question now – especially with regard to residual water quantities and the gravel drift – is: What do we want?
Important points in the re-awarding of the Walchensee power plant
“It is important to us that we achieve an overall good result,” assured Karl Probst. He could also “live well with Uniper”. In his opinion, the most important points in the new award include the residual water volumes and the continuity of water bodies “where it makes sense”.
Probst also calls for bedload management and clear cost allocation. This means that anyone who causes damage to the environment must also be able to be prosecuted financially. From the perspective of the “Save the Isar Now” association, regionalization is important. The association's chairman emphasized: "Not only should the disadvantages remain with the region, but also part of the profits." The new concession must also be accompanied by extensive public relations work.
Residual water study at Walchensee: Rißbach and Jachen
On the subject of residual water, Probst reported on two experiments last year. Also from a study commissioned by Uniper. Three cubic meters per second (cbm/sec) would therefore be required at the Rißbach. “That’s not a small amount,” said the chairman. Despite this amount of discharge, the desired minimum water height of 20 centimeters in the stream bed cannot be achieved. That’s why, according to the Uniper company, things are “looking bad” in the Riß Valley.
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A return line of up to 1.3 cbm/sec would be required at the Jachen. According to Uniper, the weir in Leger probably cannot handle this amount of water. Probst is now hoping for the results of the group's study, which has not yet been published.
Stand-up paddlers and pool jumpers have no place on the Isar
The
“Save the Isar Now” association
is grateful for the
boat regulations on the Isar issued by the district
and for the
use of the Isar rangers
, said chairman Karl Probst. However, he recently drew attention to some “implementation deficits” at the general meeting. According to the regulation,
the popular pool jumping is not permitted
. But some commercial providers “apparently want the same Halligalli as before”.
Probst has observed that people don't care much
about navigating the rapids quickly
. “Many people prefer to have the pleasure several times in a row.”
A particular thorn in Probst’s side are the so-called stand-up paddles
. “Stand-up paddling has
no place in shallow water
.” According to the current regulations, these are
unsuitable watercraft
. With the rental boats that have recently been offered, “another business is being done at the expense of the Isar, where the rental companies also save on the guide”.
District Administrator Josef Niedermaier
wants to bring the information about the stand-up paddlers
to the district office.
If one of the almost ten licensed commercial providers attracts unpleasant attention during boat tours, “then sooner or later they will be out of business
. ”
This has already happened twice, said the district administrator. The relevant permits are issued every year.
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