HaLiMa: Flood protection and ecological renewal along the Lippe

The “HaLiMa” flood protection project combines long-term flood protection with the ecological development of the Lippe River: Between Haltern am See and Marl, a riverine habitat is being created that benefits both people and nature alike.

The project was prompted by mining-induced land subsidence along the Lippe River. This subsidence increases the risk of flooding and restricts the river’s natural development.

In collaboration with the Lippeverband, the dikes are being set back over a length of more than five kilometers. This will create approximately 60 hectares of new floodplain and retention areas, which will ensure long-term flood protection while also creating new habitats. A roughly two-kilometer-long section of the river will be redesigned so that the Lippe can once again develop in a near-natural state. Materials from the former dikes will be reused to backfill the existing river section, thereby conserving resources.