Promotion of Measures for Natural River Engineering and Watercourse Development (FRL Watercourse Development)
Grants for structural improvement measures on flowing waters and ecological enhancement of artificial standing waters in Saarland. Funding rates of up to 95% possible. Applications must be submitted before the start of measures by 31.12.2025.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for the implementation of natural river engineering measures and watercourse development in Saarland to achieve the management objectives according to § 82 WHG and to improve ecological connectivity.
Eligible expenses
- Planning and consulting services (e.g., according to HOAI)
- Construction measures
- Maintenance and care of water bodies
- Renovation of technical installations (e.g., monk structures)
- Land acquisition including surveying, notary, and land transfer tax
- Show more
Non-eligible expenses
- Watercourse modifications for non-water management or non-ecological reasons
- Drainage measures
- Piping works
- Acquisition of construction equipment, machinery, and motor vehicles
- Administrative and permit fees
- Show more
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Project pursues high water management and ecological objectives or serves the implementation of the action program according to § 82 WHG
- Required legal approval for the measure must be available at the time of application
- Implementation of the measure exclusively in Saarland
- For artificial standing waters, funding is only possible every five years and must be linked to the restoration of connectivity
Documents required for application
- Application form
- Water law approval notice
- Approved planning documents
- Cost estimate
- Financing plan
- Third-party grant commitments
- Proof of use
Evaluation criteria
- Conformity with a coordinated watercourse development and maintenance plan
- Coordination with measures according to the Flood Risk Management Directive or NATURA 2000
- Compliance with the rules of technology in wastewater mapping techniques
Description
In Saarland, a grant program supports the implementation of natural river engineering measures on flowing waters as well as the ecological enhancement of artificial standing waters. Eligible applicants include public law corporations, institutions with public tasks, private operators of hydropower plants, participant communities of land consolidation procedures, and associations that maintain standing waters. The goal is to achieve the management objectives according to § 82 WHG and to improve ecological connectivity. Funding is provided for, among other things, near-natural watercourse designs, restoration of natural floodplains, establishment of riparian buffer strips, as well as necessary land acquisition and preliminary planning services. Own contributions can be credited up to 75%, provided they are clearly documented and can be verified by external services.
The funding rate of 50% up to 95% of eligible expenses enables significant relief for project sponsors. Eligible costs include planning and consulting services, construction measures, maintenance and care of waters, renovation of technical installations, as well as land acquisition including surveying and notary fees. Excluded are expansions without water management or ecological objectives, drainage measures, piping, purchase of construction equipment, permit fees, and fish stocking. Coordination with water development plans, flood risk management, and nature conservation requirements is decisive. Applications must be submitted electronically before the start of the measure and no later than December 31, 2025. Early planning and coordination with the Ministry for Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection increase the chances of success.