Klausen for water storage

Traditional Water Management

Since streams didn't always have enough water for timber rafting, klausen were constructed. In the Salzkammergut, these were typically "Steinkastenklausen." They were built by stacking round timber logs in a box shape and filling the gaps with stones. These klausen were water-retaining and had gravel gates to prevent sedimentation.

An example is the Chorinskyklause in the Weißenbachtal in Bad Goisern. Built in 1819, it is protected as a technical monument. Following a flood disaster, it was renovated by the federal forests and now serves as a forest school for children's programs.