The first certified stream in Mittelland
On 23 January 2025, the Roggenhausenbach at Aarau became the first watercourse in Mittelland to receive the “River Pearl PLUS” quality label.
You would probably never suspect a river pearl so close to an urban area. Yet there it is – the first River Pearl PLUS in Mittelland. The Roggenhausenbach at Aarau received the “River Pearl PLUS” certificate, lasting five years, on 23 January 2025.
This was the culmination of months of work by the Aarau Citizens’ Community, in partnership with the Citizens’ Community in Unterentfelden, local stakeholders in the municipalities of Aarau, Eppenberg-Wöschnau, Gretzenbach, Oberentfelden, Unterentfelden and Schönenwerd and other motivated individuals from the district. Working together in a participatory process, they drew up a development plan for the Roggenhausenbach setting out how they wanted to maintain and improve their stream over the years to come.
Important ecological improvements are under consideration for the area around the zoo, for instance, where the stream is heavily impacted. The stream would thus be upgraded right along its course, meaning it could possibly be recertified as an expanded River Pearl PLUS in five years’ time – all the way down to the alluvial plain in the lowest section before it joins the Aare.
People on the ground have drafted many other measures for maintaining and improving their stream. There was a palpable sense of motivation at the certification ceremony at the zoo by the Roggenhausenbach. Here’s to a great achievement!
In the photo from left to right: Dr Hanspeter Hilfiker, Mayor of Aarau; Alfred Stiner, Mayor of Unterentfelden; Werner Schib, Deputy Mayor of Aarau; Walter Wagner, President of the River Pearl Association.
Further information about the Roggenhausenbach