Small bodies of standing water – diverse ecosystems in a manageable format
The bodies of standing water within the National Park have predominantly been created by humans. Some streams in the Eifel National Park have been dammed, for example. These man-made ponds were previously used as fire ponds or to breed fish.
For the animals living in the stream, these dams represent barriers that prevent natural migration up and down the stream. These artificial bodies of water are largely being removed by breaking the dams – however, if the dams offer particular value from a conservation perspective, they are relocated alongside the stream, in a so-called “bypass”.
M. Weisgerber