The Kleine Aa in Essen may meander again: "Better for fish and water nuisance"

In Wildert, Essen, restoration works for the Kleine Aa river begin today, aiming to reintroduce meanders and create additional natural areas. This project, initiated by the province of Antwerp, seeks to mitigate flooding and enhance fish mobility. The river's natural flow will be restored by removing weirs, allowing fish to move upstream. The project includes acquiring surrounding land to provide the river with space to overflow during heavy rains, preventing water from flooding residential areas. The initiative, costing €222,000, is a collaboration between local authorities and private owners, contributing to the new Wildertnis landscape park. The restoration works will last 50 days, with traffic rerouted to avoid nearby schools.