Ostrach (stream)

Coordinates: 48°04′25.2″N 9°19′10″E / 48.073667°N 9.31944°E / 48.073667; 9.31944

Ostrach
Course of the Ostrach
Country	Germany
Source	west of Fleischwangen
- location	Landkreis Ravensburg, Landkreis Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- elevation	620 m (2,034 ft)
- length	33.1 km (21 mi)
- coordinates	47°52′48.9″N 9°24′06″E / 47.88025°N 9.40167°E / 47.88025; 9.40167
Mouth	Hundersingen
- elevation	545 m (1,788 ft)
- coordinates	48°04′25.2″N 9°19′10″E / 48.073667°N 9.31944°E / 48.073667; 9.31944

The Ostrach is a 33.1 kilometres (21 mi) long tributary stream of the Danube in Baden-Württemberg (Germany).

Geography

The stream flows through the village of Ostrach

The Ostrach originates on the north side of the European watershed, in the vicintiy of Fleischwangen in the Landkreis Ravensburg and drains out of the Pfrunger wetlands. It runs parallel to the Ablach for most of its length, flowing between two moraine hills by Ostrach, through the Weithart, and the Göge-Ablach plateau. The mouth of the Ostrach lies in Hundersingen, a suburb of the community of Herbertingen in the Landkreis Sigmaringen where it runs for 22 kilometres (14 mi) to the Danube. The catchment area is 204.6 square kilometres (79 sq mi).

Localities on the Ostrach

Die Ostrach traverses or touches several districts and communities from its source to the Danube: The locale of Fleischwangen, where it originates, Guggenhausen, Riedhausen, Ostrach and its subdivisions of Laubbach, Jettkofen, Wangen, Einhart and Habsthal, the Mengen city subdivision of Rosna, the Hohentengen subdivisions of Bremen and Beizkofen, and finally by Hundersingen, where it reaches the Danube.

Tributaries

Tributaries of the Ostrach include the Wilhelmsdorf canal, die Fleischwanger Ach (creek), the Hornbach, the Tiefenbach and the Seebach.

Ecology

Fauna

The Ostrach in the Pfrunger wetlands

Since 2005, a beaver population has developed in the Pfrunger-Burgweiler wetlands.^[1] In the upper Im oberen range of the Ostrach, the beavers have erected a dam across the stream, creating a pond that holds 1000 cubic meters of water, causing the tributaries of the Ostrach to overflow their banks, to the great frustration of the farmers in Riedhausen and Laubbach.^[2]

A protection project is underway, with the goal to protect the wetlands and the watershed. The seven million Euro project will end in 2012.^[3]

Citations

1. ^ Laut Pia Wilhelm, Mitarbeiterin im Naturschutzzentrum des Schwäbischen Heimatbundes Pfrunger-Burgweiler Ried
2. ^ Josef Unger: Wasserstau im Pfrunger-Burgweiler Ried bei Arbeitseinsatz beseitigt. Biberdamm nun etwas niedriger. In: Südkurier vom 21. November 2008
3. ^ Florian Unger: Natur. Staudamm quer durch die Ostrach. Im Pfrunger-Burgweiler Ried sind Biber am Werk – Sorge um Stauung und überflutete Wiesen. In: Südkurier vom 11. November 2008