Urgent need for action: Bad Kohlgrub wants to expand torrent - to protect the citizens

Created: 06/23/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Manuela Schauer

From Sonnen, the torrent is to be expanded.

graphic: Bayernatlas © Bayernatlas

The storm in May has an aftermath: The municipality of Bad Kohlgrub would like to have the Kraggenaugraben, which caused damage, expanded.

Bad Kohlgrub – The situation is serious.

The storm at the beginning of May showed just how serious the situation was.

There is an urgent need for action, says Mayor Franz Degele (free voters) in the municipal council.

Although the effects of the heavy rain in Saulgrub - there, as is well known, the bypass was full, one man drowned - were much more pronounced, but damage also occurred in Bad Kohlgrub.

Properties in Kraggenau were flooded.

The local politicians agree that this should not be repeated.

They want to prevent renewed flooding with a package of measures.

The source of all evil has already been identified: the Kraggenaugraben, which was not expanded, could not transport the water masses in sufficient quantities.

"The rain was incredibly heavy," says Horst Hofmann from the Weilheim Water Management Office (WWA) when asked by the daily newspaper.

"The creek is not designed for that." He would have to collect at least six cubic meters in the district, "but doesn't even pack half".

The Water Management Office recommends having a concept drawn up

Representatives of the WWA, the Weilheim State Building Authority and the community came together four days after the storm for a site visit.

They inspected the damage and discussed possible protective measures.

The town hall administration has a clear stance: the Kraggenaugraben must be expanded as soon as possible in order to be able to offer sufficient protection for the surrounding property in the event of a future flood.

The WWA announced the measure.

The municipal council has now approved applying for the project between the district of Sonnen and the district boundary.

The so-called maintenance burden of the torrent is transferred to the Free State of Bavaria with the expansion.

It is not yet foreseeable when this will take place.

"The WWA Weilheim has 80 expansion streams," explained Degele.

"You know when it's your turn.

The local politicians did not even have to discuss the necessity.

She was out of the question.

The recommendation of the Water Management Office provided more topics of conversation.

This advised the municipality to have a so-called flash flood risk management system drawn up by a suitable engineering office.

The concept is subsidized with a subsidy rate of 75 percent and reveals which local bodies of water could pose a threat in the event of bad weather.

where the water is going, which buildings are at risk and what measures need to be taken by citizens and the municipality.

The costs are around 50,000 euros.

It's not raining normally anymore.

Franz Degele

If it's about your own money, the municipal councilors will of course give more extensive advice.

Martin Niklas (Neue Liste) asked whether the expansion of the Kraggenaugraben depended on this.

"Officially no," Degele replied.

"But the water management office wants that to be done." Elsewhere too, throughout the Alps.

The mayor even expects such a concept to become mandatory one day.

"It's not raining normally anymore," he says, asking for approval.

"That would be a bit farsighted." Niklas saw it similarly, advocated taking this path and not waiting "until the cellar is full".

Even in a way, Simon Eickholt (Neue Liste) considered it a duty for the community to follow the WWA recommendation - "although that might be an effort for us" if more streams need to be expanded.

If the community should keep their hands off it and something happens, then in his opinion one has to be partly responsible for it.

Ultimately, no one voted against it.