Wapelbach

Weir in the Wapelbach Wapelbad near the hamlet Gütersloher Kattenstroth

The Wapelbach, sometimes just the Wapel and called in the upper reaches Wehrbach, is a 35.5 km long, left-side tributary of the Dalke and part of the water system of the EMS, so its water ultimately leads into the North Sea.

Geography

The Wapelbach arises as Wehrbach east of Stukenbrock near the former state highway 68 on the southeast slope of the Osningstrangs of the Teutoburg Forest and crosses in its upper course the nature reserve Wehrbachtal. Only after almost five kilometers in length, the water changes its name to " Wapelbach " is as such by the communities Schloss Holte- Stukenbrock, Verl, Rietberg, Rheda- Wiedenbrück and Gütersloh (all Gütersloh ) and ends near the "New Mill " in Gütersloh district Pavenstädt in the Dalke, about a kilometer before this river flows into the Ems.

When Kaunitz the Wapelbach the Rodenbach takes on the right side and there flows in a wide floodplain through the nature reserve sea grass meadows. Then it flows through the district Rietberger New churches. In the vicinity of the Gütersloh district Kattenstroth he takes the right side on the oil stream. On the entire stretch of the river flows mainly through agricultural land, but also by woodlands of the Teutoburg Forest upstream Senne landscape and Rheda Forst and by two nature reserves.

The Wapelbach is touristy connected to the R1 cycle route which runs about eight kilometers in the river area. The Wapelbach crosses under the major thoroughfares Federal Highway 33, State Highway 2, Federal Highway 61 and the railroad Hamm- Minden.

Environment

The Wapelbach flows through the existing since 1989, 131 hectare wetland reserve sea grass meadows. The designation as a congruent parts of Natura 2000 - Reserve by the Fauna- Flora-Habitat Directive was later under the name " Senna streams " and was controversial.

Flora and Fauna

As part of the designation as a conservation area protected species of fish brook lamprey and bullhead were detected. Priority habitat according to the criteria of the Habitats Directive occurring in the river area alder-ash and softwood floodplain forests

Water quality

The municipal wastewater treatment plant of Schloss Holte- Stukenbrock drained into the water system of the Wapelbachs.

Because of the poor water quality, especially in the lower reaches of the resort activities of the adjacent Wapelbads in the 1960s was stopped and has not resumed it since.

However, the occurrence of the bullhead in the upper river is an indicator of in this area is still very high water quality.

Attractions and buildings

At the height of Wapelbads was built in 1933, a weir in Wapelbach to dam up the water for a swim.

The 1925/26, commissioned in bath was used to in the 60s as a swimming area. Today, swimming is only permitted in the wading pool due to poor water quality.

In the past, the Wapelbach bowed in the middle and lower reaches, especially in rainy winter months to flooding. For this reason, the sea grass meadows to the west was built a retention basin in 2008.

Swell

• River system Dalke
• River in Europe
• River in North Rhine -Westphalia
• Waters in Gütersloh
• Waters in Rheda- Wiedenbrück
• Waters in Rietberg
• Waters in Schloss Holte- Stukenbrock
• Waters in Verl