Summer 1999: An Urban River Snapshot

After a little more digging, we were able to get in touch with Dr. Thomas Uhlendahl (many thanks to Jörg Lange and Nicole Jackisch). Thomas recently wrote a PhD thesis titled "Public participation in river basin management on the local level within the context of the Water Framework Directive," and it includes several chapters on the Dreisam. During our interview with him, we discovered the existence of a survey conducted in the Summer of 1999 for the purpose of illuminating the relationship between the Dreisam and its people. The survey comes from a study entitled "GEWÄSSER-ENTWICKLUNGSPLAN" by Jörg Haferkorn, Joachim Loritz, and Stefan Amann. We have reproduced excerpts of this study in English below. Our translation was aided by Google Translate and many grammar lessons from our lovely German teacher, Karen. The most interesting finding for us was the overwhelming support at least as early as 1999 for a restoration of the Dreisam to its natural state (or something closer to it). Further investigation has yielded the knowledge that this sentiment has only grown over the past decade, which we are excited to describe in detail in our next post. Until then, here are the excerpts from that study, giving us a snapshot of how things were along the banks of the Dreisam a decade before:

Recreational Function of the Dreisam River
4.1 Introduction
The waters of the Southern Upper Rhine Directorate / Upper Rhine area Waldshut is responsible for the development of Dreisam waters in the area referred to as “planning and implementation.” This requires the creation of a water development plan. It is intended as a basic planning tool of the current state, including the development goal and the long-term development needs in general, as well as concrete implementation options.
The pioneering aspects of water development here are for the “ecological river” as a product of nature and space utilization, and both influence each other.
Especially in urban areas, the growing use and significance of the watercourse as a place of relaxation, experience or recreation in “nature” has been observed. At the same time there are efforts for the highest ecological protection and highest economic uses (so-called restrictions).
To create a concept for the development of the inner-city river, it requires the knowledge of the "relationship" of the city or the city dwellers to urban rivers.
In coordination and close cooperation with the Southern Waters Directorate, the Upper Rhine / High Rhine region Waldshut and the local authorities were established for the determination of the relaxation function parameters established in August / September 1999 in the city of Freiburg. To get an impression of that "relationship” between the city and river, a survey was also carried out, as well as reports on the conditions, content, and results.

4.1.1 Recreational Functions of the Dreisam
Due to the diverse needs of our leisure society, recreation in the everyday environment preferably takes place “at our front door." The Dreisam is not only directly in front of many front doors, but also running centrally through the main city of Freiburg. Not only Freiburgers themselves, but many commuters and visitors use the river and its riparian areas on weekends, during breaks, and after work as a relaxing element as well as a place to experience nature in urban areas.
Relaxation is sought in the form of walking, sitting and sun bathing, swimming, and barbecuing. In addition, in urban areas exist the most well constructed boardwalks, frequently used as routes for joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters (although many of these users of the Dreisam area could not be included in this survey for logistical reasons).
Besides the obvious and strong use of the Dreisam as a place of recreation and leisure activities, the relationship between humans and nature in the city is important with regard to the overall plan of water development.

4.3.1 intention of the survey
To get an impression of the ways the Dreisam is being used and to what extent.
The target group included Dreisam users who choose to spend part of their free time on or by the water and who were ready and willing to give 10 - 15 minutes of their time to answer the questionnaire.

4.3.2 Boundary conditions and content of the survey
Period: hot weather period from Aug 25 – Sept 10, 1999
10 survey appointments were created at different times of day and days of the week
Survey Area: Dreisam boardwalks and waterside sites in the city Freiburg area
Interview duration: 10 - 15 minutes per questionnaire
Number of respondents: 100

4.3.3 The questionnaire
The questionnaire is divided into three parts. In the first part, general (anonymous) information about the subject is asked, then the subject is asked about the recreational use of Dreisam. In another part individual subjects have the option to name additional important or unimportant issues. The person also has the option to express criticism or suggestions for improvement. “Restoration of the Dreisam” was given as an example, with an aerial image shown of the original appearance of a small riparian meadow.



4.3.5 Summary and interpretation of results
There were 57 females and 43 males interviewed, of whom 76% are living in Freiburg. The survey was aimed at all age groups, reaching both children and retirees over 70 years. Most people (over 40%) represented the age group 21-30 years.
98% said they use the Dreisam as a place of recreation. 64% walk on the Dreisam, most (30%) between 1 and 50 times per year.
87% walk or dwell on the River. Again, the majority of 1-50 times per year. 5% would like more benches or seats stones to relax and unwind.
29% said they bathe in the Dreisam. The average number of bathing days was 17 (per summer). 16% of the respondents proposed to create additional deeper swimming holes or shallow gravel beaches. Many criticized the risk of injury by broken glass in the riverbed of the Dreisam.
13% have made a fire or grilled at the Dreisam at least once. 70% were in favor of creating official barbecue areas, emphasizing several times that only a few barbecue places should be created.
The accessibility was predominantly (47%) classified as good. 91% considered it either very good, good, or at least moderate. 21% of them considered accessibility an important issue. 9% considered accessibility poor to very poor. Among other things criticized was the lack of signage as well as the limited access for pedestrians with wheelchairs.
The waste is either disposed of either through the public garbage can (37%) or taken home (36%). 21% use both. 2% admitted they did not dispose of their rubbish. On the subject of waste, the most criticism was voiced. 37% of all respondents wish that more trashcans be placed along the river, and the already existing cans should be emptied more frequently. In the city center (Kaiser Bridge), packaging waste from the pizzeria present a challenge to tree frogs, and some suggested the company should take care of the removal.
90% of all respondents would be in favor of a restoration measure for the Dreisam. 6% are against such a measure, and 4% had no opinion on this topic. No significant correlation in the responses could be seen on the topic of whether the respondents knew why the Dreisam was straightened (24% knew and 76% did not).
The most important issues for respondents were the experience of nature and river restoration with 73%, the chairs and relaxation factor with 72%, and walking with 65%. The garbage problem was important for 58%, and this topic had most criticisms and suggestions. The issue of accessibility was important for 42%.
The least important issues were swimming (32%) and fire/grilling with 23%.
While there were other criticisms and suggestions, they cannot directly be assigned to one of the topics listed. There were criticisms about the noise pollution from the roads and the need for more dog waste stations. The most common suggestion was to plant more trees.

Conclusion
Although the survey cannot be considered as representative for Freiburg – its target group are people who already use the Dreisam as recreation - it is clear that recreation is an important concern for Freiburgers and the commuters and visitors of Freiburg. Respondents were overwhelmingly positive about a potential river restoration. It was Important to them to eliminate the many small "disturbances of the natural experience,” caused by garbage, noise, dog feces, broken glass, etc.
On some issues (e.g. accessibility, waste) a more detailed spatial analysis would be illuminating. Ideally significantly more surveys will be conducted, especially for contexts not possible in this case. Moreover, a survey related to accessibility of the disabled would be recommended.