Why we’re here
The Ötztal Valley lies at the heart of the Alps. You may know it from the legendary Oetz Trophy (formerly Adidas Sickline), from World Cup alpine skiing in Sölden, or you’ve heard stories about Ötzi, the oldest mummy ever found in one of the glaciers. Its glaciers feed its waters. And its primary river, the Ötztaler Ache, is under threat.
For us — a group of passionate kayakers — the Ötztaler Ache is more than famous: it’s one of the few rivers in Europe with a long runnable season, thanks to its glacier-fed flows.
Years ago, we learned that this river is threatened by a massive project: the Kaunertal Hydropower Extension. Far from a simple “extension”, this is a mega-project involving three new dams, the flooding of an alpine wetland valley, and the diversion of up to 80% of the Venter and Gurgler Ache rivers — the two headwaters of the Ötztaler Ache.
We were already organised as WET (Wildwasser Erhalten Tirol — Protect Tyrol’s Whitewater) to fight previous dam projects in the Stubai Valley. When we saw what TIWAG (Tiroler Wasserkraft AG) had planned for the Ötztal, we knew we had to act.
Since then, we’ve built a movement:
- organising protests and public actions,
- connecting with local farmers, citizen initiatives, NGOs, and kayakers worldwide,
- producing the film Down to the Last Drop, Tyrol and its Hydropower.
- and delivering 100,000 petition signatures to the Tyrolean governor.
With more than 100 members, WET has now become a recognised environmental NGO, giving us a formal voice in decision-making processes.
In July 2025, TIWAG moved one step closer to construction, gaining permission to enter the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for part of the project. For them, it’s progress. For us, it’s a critical moment to build momentum — not just in Tyrol, but across Europe and beyond.
Why? Because part of the Kaunertal Extension has been placed on the EU’s List of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) — suggesting it is supposedly in “our” shared interest.
But common interest? We don’t agree. At a time of climate and biodiversity crisis, flooding wetlands and diverting rivers is not the solution. The only interest truly served here is TIWAG’s.
This blog series will unpack the project piece by piece, explaining what TIWAG has planned, why it’s so destructive, and how you can help stop it. Together, we can ensure the Platzertal is never drowned, and that the Ötztaler Ache keeps flowing where it belongs.
Follow our new English-language Instagram account for updates, and explore this website for background and ways to take action. We welcome your support — whether you’re a journalist, scientist, artist, kayaker, or politician. Let’s make sure the world knows what is at stake in the heart of the Alps.
