Storm front

Have lost track of all the storms currently rushing over Europe but seemingly hitting the UK the worst with dreadful scenes of flooding. There are few things as frustrating and maddening as flooding. There is virtually nothing you can do against the silent creeping power of water - it is a lot easier to cope with violent and noisy winds & lightning,

We are luckily not experiencing much of the rain, today was a beautifully sunny one. In the late afternoon, took off to Ottobeuren to do a slightly different walk along the new emergency flood dam that has been built to the south of the town. It is only to be used in emergencies to flood the meadows behind to a depth of 7m & capable of holding 1.6 million m³.

It is just one of at least three such flood dams in our immediate area along with lots of measures to re-naturalise streams and rivers to slow down the speed of water. It's all a massive EU wide coordinated plan to get to grips with the flooding that occurs all along the Danube & affects around 9 different countries. Our parishes, county councils, state and national governments are all involved in the planning & financing.

Part of our parish taxes go to pay for this although the benefit will be spread all along the 9 countries, several of which are not in the EU. In fac, our direct area is at low risk as we are so far up the water course. It's a case of solidarity, a much-used & by some countries, misunderstood word in the EU.

If you look at the Geotag in Satellite mode one can see to the south that there are no houses. Should the dam have to be put into use, farmers are compensated for the mess that has to be cleared up i.e. flotsam & for any loss of grass feed. The farmers continue to own & use the land as before.