In recent months, the first test scenario in the 1:40 physical scale model for investigating the self‑dynamic river widening of the Gail has been successfully completed at the hydraulic laboratory of the Federal Agency for Water Management.
In this initial scenario, bank protection on one side was removed, and no additional measures were implemented that could restrict the river’s natural development. This allowed the river to evolve freely out of the existing channel and express its natural morphological dynamics.
Across several individual test runs – with discharges up to a 30‑year flood event – developments were replicated that would occur over several decades in the natural system.
The results clearly demonstrate that the Gail is a highly dynamic river. Starting from a straight channel section, the river developed pronounced bend structures. In the model, the resulting widening extends close to the side boundary wall and exceeds the spatial limits currently available in the real project area.
Based on these findings, the model is now being adapted. In the next phase, different measures to guide or limit the channel development will be tested. The objective is to enable a near‑natural, self‑dynamic widening while ensuring that the process remains within the available project corridor.
Information about this project can be found in the current projects section: https://www.baw.at/en/hydraulic-engineering/projects/current-projects/self-dynamic-river-widening.html
