Flood protection
The Integrated Rhine Programme (IRP) is a French-German programme aiming to improve the retention capacity of the Rhine. To expand the storage volume of the riverbed at high water, a 90 m strip along the right bank of the river is being lowered. The excavated gravel will be used by the building industry. An important goal is the flood protection of the Cologne Cathedral.
http://www.rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1188090/index.html
http://vorort.bund.net/suedlicher-oberrhein/idx-irp.html