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

The Lech river has been named Austria’s “River of the Year” for 2026 by the World Wide Fund for Nature, ORF reported. It won an online vote held for the first time, defeating the Schwarze Sulm in Styria and the Kamp in Lower Austria.

WWF managing director Andrea Johanides said the result sent a strong signal for protecting the last near-natural river landscapes. The organisation is calling on the Tyrolean state government to issue a public guarantee protecting the Lech.

The Tyrolean Lech is one of Austria’s last major wild rivers. Its side channels, untamed banks and regularly shifting gravel and stone areas provide valuable habitats for rare species. Planned projects, including the diversion of large quantities of water towards the Rotlech reservoir, are putting pressure on the river system.

The rivers that finished second and third also face challenges. According to the WWF, the Schwarze Sulm is threatened by a planned hydropower plant, while the Kamp has recently suffered from extreme drought.

The Danube in Vienna, the Lafnitz in Burgenland, the Lavant in Carinthia, the Meng in Vorarlberg, the Vöckla in Upper Austria and the Saalach in Salzburg were also nominated.

A panel of experts selected the rivers based on their ecological condition, biodiversity, threats and specific protection needs. The WWF said all nine nominated rivers should be protected because preserving Austria’s river stretches is important for biodiversity and for protection against drought and flooding.