Seligenstadt's Beaver Problem: City and Stakeholders to Discuss Infrastructure Solutions
Seligenstadt is grappling with an unusual challenge - beavers causing infrastructure issues. The city is in constant talks with stakeholders to safeguard both the beavers and its municipal infrastructure.
Beavers in Seligenstadt's Schwarzbruch nature reserve and nearby areas are highly active, leading to water level changes that disrupt heavy-goods vehicle access to key facilities like the municipal works yard, poultry association, and allotment garden club. Their dam-building and construction work are reshaping the water landscape sustainably.
In 2024, authorities installed drainage along the Stadtmühlbach to mitigate these effects. However, First City Councilor Oliver Steidl has stated that further measures are necessary to fully address the infrastructure impact. To tackle this, a conference is planned for November 12, 2025, involving the Regional Council Darmstadt, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority, the Lower Water Authority, and Hessen Forst. An on-site meeting will be held to discuss and implement suitable solutions that comply with nature and species protection laws.
Seligenstadt's beaver problem is far from resolved, with disruptions to heavy-goods vehicle access persisting. The upcoming conference aims to find a balance between protecting the beavers and mitigating their impact on municipal infrastructure.
