WWF names Tyrol’s Lech River Austria’s 2026 River of the Year

The Lech River in Tyrol has been named Austria’s 2026 River of the Year after winning the first online vote organized by the environmental group WWF. The Schwarze Sulm in Styria placed second, while Lower Austria’s Kamp ranked third.

For WWF managing director Andrea Johanides, the Lech’s victory sends “a strong signal for protecting the last near-natural river landscapes.” The organization is calling on the Tyrolean government to issue a public guarantee that the river will be protected.

The Lech is one of Austria’s last large wild rivers. Its side channels, untamed banks and constantly shifting gravel and stone beds provide valuable habitat for rare animal species. WWF says the river system is under pressure from a proposed project to divert large quantities of water toward the Rotlech reservoir.

The other leading rivers also face threats. WWF says a planned hydropower plant endangers the Schwarze Sulm, while the Kamp has recently struggled with extreme drought. The nine nominated rivers also included the Danube in Vienna, Burgenland’s Lafnitz, Carinthia’s Lavant, Vorarlberg’s Meng, Upper Austria’s Vöckla and Salzburg’s Saalach.

A panel of experts selected the nominees based on ecological condition, biodiversity, threats and specific protection needs. WWF said all nine rivers require protection because preserving Austria’s river stretches supports biodiversity and helps protect against drought and flooding.

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A strong signal for the protection of the last near-natural river landscapes.