Item: Blons in Vorarlberg, Austria - 60 Years Sustainable Avalanche Protection: Experience, Setbacks, and Lessons Learned
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Title: Blons in Vorarlberg, Austria - 60 Years Sustainable Avalanche Protection: Experience, Setbacks, and Lessons Learned
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Andreas Drexel [ Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control, District Office Bregenz ]
- Gianna Alexandra Moser [ Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control, District Office Bregenz ]
- Johann Kessler [ Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control, District Office Bregenz ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: In 1954, the largest avalanche accident in the history of the second Austrian Republic occurred in the small Walser community of Blons in Vorarlberg. The avalanche disasters of 1951 and 1954 heralded modern avalanche protection in the Alps. In addition to the development of various support structures in the avalanche starting zone, some of which are still in operation today, special attention was paid to the "green protective wall" - the protective forest above the residential areas in the municipality of Blons. Sustainable avalanche protection is a permanent task for an exposed alpine valley. Competence, consistent action and the factor time are the way to success, especially in the conversion of overgrown protection forests and their refoundations. 100 years are often not enough to build protective stocks near the upper timberline. This article provides an overview of the natural conditions of the Great Walser Valley (Vorarlberg / Austria) and explains the events of the year 1954. Subsequently it reports about the forest and technical protection measures taken over time and the associated risk assessments.
Object ID: ISSW2018_P03.5.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Sustainable Avalanche Protection, Protection Forest, Avalanche Hazard in Blons/ Vorarlberg.
Page Number(s): 266-270
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