The Bavaria pond is located in the southeast of the Offenbach district of Bieber and is a habitat for rare plants such as the brown cypergrass (Cyperus fuscus) and valuable spawning water for many amphibian species. Reed structures and dense wooded areas offer retreats for water birds and songbirds, while its rich insect fauna becomes a hunting ground for various bat species. However, the potential for flora and fauna is far greater. The water once belonged to the floodplain of the Bieberbach and is now located in the “Stadt Offenbach am Main” nature reserve.
Garbage and garden waste deposits, building structures, immigrant plants that displace the native ones and the enrichment of the water with nutrients resulting from previous use, which sometimes results in harmful plant growth, currently still have a negative effect on the biodiversity in the pond.
As part of an eco-account measure, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority of the Office for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection is planning the ecological upgrading of the water and the surrounding green space, an area totaling around 0.6 hectares.
Mayor Sabine Groß explains: “The aim is to transform the Bavaria pond into a richly structured biotope and thus create a habitat for numerous animal and plant species. The scope of these measures is measured in ecopoints according to the Compensation Ordinance and thus enables the project to be refinanced. Future, unavoidable interventions in nature can be offset in advance by purchasing ecopoints. The creation of a more extensive eco-account credit to simplify and accelerate urban development is an important part of the Offenbach concept “Man + Nature” ”.
The office provides its own eco-account measures so that construction projects and other plans can be implemented in compliance with the statutory intervention / compensation regulations without loss of time and at a profit for the landscape in Offenbach.
Heike Hollerbach, Head of the Office for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection adds: “With this measure, we are activating two further goals from the ‘Man + Nature’ concept. On the one hand, this is the protection of surface water and, on the other hand, the expansion of the retention area, which serves as a water retention area in the event of heavy rain and thus prevents a strong rise in water. We also promote the valuable reed stocks. “
Background: State of the Bavaria pond and necessary measures
The earlier use has led to a strong enrichment of nutrients in the Bavaria pond, which promotes the occurrence of algal blooms. In addition, the pond has lost its depth. It now has a layer of mud that is around 50 to 80 centimeters high and regularly dries out.
The central component of the area development is the extraction of nutrients. To do this, the pond must first be cleared of excessive mud and deepening of the water must be ensured. In addition, it is necessary to remove rubbish, the structures and the remains of the fence. Furthermore, all plants that are not indigenous there must be removed and fought. In order to preserve the Bavaria pond as a valuable habitat, it is necessary to make the pond eutrophic, i.e. to develop it into a nutrient-rich and productive body of water with swimming and aquatic vegetation. The vegetation of the dwarf rushes must be promoted. A natural woody development must arise that creates retreats for living beings. In addition, near-natural, poor bank planting is required.
The basic research and project planning is currently taking place. The corresponding permits are to be obtained in spring 2022. Construction is scheduled to start the following autumn.
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