Context

Infrastructure in high mountain environments is affected by increased sediment loads, due to glacier retreat above the timberline.

Kaunertal Valley in western Austria is experiencing glacier retreat and the southern part of the valley the ‘Gepatschferner’ glacier is one of the fastest melting glaciers in Austria. This glacier retreat leaves unconsolidated sediments in steep lateral moraines exposed to erosion and subsequently rock fall, debris flows, and shallow landslides decreasing the slope stability in the proglacial.

The initiative

Kaunertal concept study aims at the development of a height adapted seed mixture to stabilize slopes. In an interdisciplinary effort between geomorphologists and ecologists, the stabilizing effect of vegetation and the growth-promoting effects of bacteria to specifically enhance plant traits that most strongly contribute to slope stability will be demonstrated, through laboratory experiments and vegetation plots.

Results, limits and enable factors

The prior treatment of the seeds with local micro organisms lead to the favourable development of erosion reducing functionalities such as higher vegetation cover and a denser root system. The envisaged product will be spread by the means of hydro seeding on steep slopes to reduce sediment yield most effectively.