Climate change adaption and the river Seest Mølleå

The center of the city Kolding is frequently under threat from flooding due to heavy or prolonged precipitation events. Located at the bottom of a river valley, the municipality has initiated many climate-proofing projects to mitigate flood risks. One such project, initiated by Kolding municipality and the utility company Bluekolding, concerns the river Seest Mølleå. The nature-based climate adaptation project cost a total of 3,5 mio. DKK, and was inaugurated in November 2021 after 5 months of construction. 

When heavy prescriptions occur in the large catchment area outside the city, the speed of the water running through Seest Mølleå increases and overflows near the city center of Kolding. To slow down the water, two earth dykes were built, and two parts of the river were re-twisted into beautiful meandering courses. 

The finished result created new areas for recreation closer to Kolding city, and more water running providing nutrients to  surrounding meadows. Additionally, mountain bike tracks and hiking paths were created around and on the dykes, as well as stepping stones in shallow areas and the Seest Sports Park, encouraging more recreation. Furthermore, the project has greatly benefited the wildlife in the area, such as small fish and bird species. 

"The climate project is also about synergies such as increased nature quality, nitrogen removal and recreational measures. The project therefore also helps to give the area greater biodiversity, among other things by establishing waterholes, rewiring streams and more wet meadows,”says project manager Inger Wiuff Jørgensen from BlueKolding.