Advancing freshwater restoration

My Projects

As a public authority, we oversee all river restoration projects carried out in Luxembourg. Our responsibilities span both the planning and execution phases, including on-site supervision during construction. We regularly organize meetings to exchange ideas, initiate new projects, and monitor their progress, maintaining a strong presence on the ground. These collaborative efforts are essential to advancing our shared objectives.

In addition, the Water Management Agency is responsible for issuing the necessary permits.

Pétrusse restoration in Luxembourg-City

• Key project facts

  Pétrusse restoration in Luxembourg-City

  The Pétrusse stream was once confined to a straight concrete channel, which disrupted its ecological function—eliminating habitats, blocking fish migration, and accelerating water flow. It also suffered from extreme flow variations, with very low levels during dry periods and sudden surges during floods, increasing flood risks. The restoration project aims to restore ecological and hydrological balance by creating habitats, enabling fish passage, and improving flood regulation. Integrated into a broader landscape design, the project also included infrastructure upgrades such as utility network adjustments, bridge reconstruction, and enhancements to the valley’s cultural heritage.

• What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?

  We continue to monitor the impact on biodiversity, which will take time to fully assess. However, river habitats have already shown rapid improvement, and we anticipate a rise in biodiversity. Water quality, however, remains a challenge.

• What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?

  Unlike many of our other projects, we were fortunate that the City of Luxembourg owned the land surrounding the Pétrusse, which is typically one of the biggest challenges in river restoration. However, since the project was part of a broader landscape redevelopment of Pétrusse Park, aligning different visions and interests required careful coordination. Thanks to effective communication, a shared agreement was reached. 

  During implementation, unexpected soil contamination from a former gas plant was discovered, requiring local adaptations. 

  Another challenge was organizing the construction site: machinery and materials had to be stored outside the flood-prone area to prevent damage during high water events. Clear communication with the construction site overseer was important.

  Public acceptance of the project was initially low, particularly because some trees had to be removed to create the new riverbed. To address these concerns, we organized site visits with local politicians and the Minister of the Environment, Climate, and Biodiversity. These visits helped explain the project's goals and highlighted how the restoration would enhance biodiversity.

• What lessons learned are transferable to other places/projects?

  It’s really important to stay flexible and ready to adapt the project when unexpected situations arise. Good communication is essential, and it’s important to respect everyone’s interests—even when they don’t fully match your own. The aim is to find a solution that meets everyone's needs while staying aligned with the goals of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive.