The Hasselbach is a small body of water – yet of great importance in the valley.

For streams cool their surroundings, keep the soil moist longer, and make forests more resilient to dry periods. Where water flows, trees can root deeper, and the forest remains overall more stable.

At the same time, one can observe how the climate is changing at the stream. Precipitation is becoming less frequent but often more intense. The soil cannot always absorb the water, it flows off the surface, leading to flooding – and yet in some places, groundwater levels are dropping. Especially then, the stream becomes an important buffer in the forest's water management.

However, a stream is more than just a waterway. It is a habitat and a connective pathway for species like dragonflies, frogs, water ouzels, and kingfishers. The more diverse the banks and bed are constructed, the better they serve two purposes: the stream as a buffer for the forest and as a home for animals and plants.

Stream Check: Stop for a moment and read the stream. Where is the bank shallow, where steep? Where can the water spread, and where is it constricted? This reveals how well the stream supports the forest – or where it is under pressure.