"River corrections on the Oder, Elbe, and Rhine"

After a general introduction to the complex topic by Dipl.-Ing. Armin Bäuerle, the former head of the Müllheim Steinbeis Institute, oceanographer Dr. Erich Bäuerle will present the effects of natural forces on land and people in the Oderbruch. Dr. E. Bäuerle acquired his scientific qualifications in and on the water at the Institute of Oceanography in Kiel and at the Limnological Institute of the University of Constance. Subsequently, Dr. Bäuerle dedicated himself to the research and protection of water bodies. He reflects on the river corrections during the time of King Frederick the Great of Prussia: an early attempt to tame the forces of nature through river corrections. Following this, Armin Bäuerle will present the work on the correction of the Rhine. The Rhine correction can be considered one of the outstanding engineering achievements of the 19th century in southwestern Germany: the century project between Baden and France. Afterwards, A. Bäuerle describes the influences on the course of the Rhine—thanks to Tulla's engineering achievements, which were intended to improve the drainage of floodwaters and reduce the risk of flooding. The focus here is on the contribution of Johann Gottlieb Tulla, the brilliant geodesist. He was the driving force behind the successful straightening of the meandering river. It is also noteworthy that even Tulla, in his time, foresaw the dangers of overly ambitious measures. At the conclusion of the "river trilogy," Dr. Bäuerle will report on current events concerning the Elbe River. The straightening, diking, and damming measures taken there, which have led to an almost continuous series of dams in the Czech part of the Elbe, have had significant impacts on the river's ecology. In the case of the Elbe, everything is complicated by the tumultuous history of World War II and the division of Germany. In conclusion, when describing the cityscapes shaped by the rivers and the subsequent "afflictions" triggered by technological interventions, a comparison with the natural disaster in the Aartal becomes apparent. At the end of the presentations, A. Bäuerle will honor the influential personality of Tulla and his contributions to the region of Baden. To this day, the name Tulla is inextricably linked to his ingenious work on the "German standards system."

THE SPEAKERS
Armin Bäuerle is a Dipl.-Ingenieur (FH) and was the head of the Steinbeis Transfer Center 594 in Müllheim until 2023. Dr. Erich Bäuerle is a limnologist who researched at the Institute of Oceanography in Kiel and at the Limnological Institute of the University of Constance.