At the Reitzenmühle in Auringen, there were two obstacles that made it difficult for aquatic life to migrate to the source. For 100 meters, the river bed and the embankments were heavily fortified with stones, the so-called "Nassauer Gestück". This not only prevented the independent development of the watercourse, but also the migration of smaller creatures due to the fast current. The other obstacle to migration consisted of an approximately 1.2 meter high waterfall with an adjoining scour - a small water-filled depression.

In addition to removing the obstacles to migration, the structure of the watercourse was to be improved along the entire stretch. In addition to the existing straightening, the natural vegetation in areas with directly adjacent meadow use was kept low or completely removed. In places, the land use extended right up to the upper edge of the embankment. As a result, there was a lack of natural bed substrate and bedload deposits as well as an intact riparian strip. This resulted in the corresponding classification according to the structural quality assessment under the Water Framework Directive from a few areas with class 4 (significantly altered) to class 5 (heavily altered) and class 6 (very heavily altered).

The Wickerbach and Aubach streams were to be structurally upgraded with simple measures.
To eliminate the waterfall and "raise" the low-lying stream, a ramp with Taunus quartzite stones was installed over a total length of around 132 meters. The additional installation of sturgeon stones and deadwood is intended to accumulate sand and gravel for substrate deposition.

In addition to the structure of the watercourse, the watercourse environment was also to be improved. Woody plantings of native tree species such as black alder have a positive effect. By shading the watercourse, it remains cool even in summer and the oxygen content does not drop as a result.

In preparation, many information and coordination meetings were held with stakeholders, in particular with the residents of Reitzenmühle. A preservation of evidence procedure documented existing damage to the buildings. Before work began, fish were caught to protect them and released at a safe location downstream (electrofishing). Several individuals of brown trout and stickleback were found.

The existing crayfish population posed a challenge for the implementation of the measure. This smallest European crayfish species is on the German Red List of Threatened Species and requires special protection under species conservation law. Protective measures were taken in advance for the stone crayfish: All tools, vehicles and clothing such as rubber boots were disinfected on the construction site to protect it from crayfish plague and invasive species such as the signal crayfish. In addition, a stone crayfish expert provided ecological support for the work.

The renaturation was only allowed to take place on the municipal watercourse parcel. In addition, the adjacent legally protected grassland biotopes had to be protected from damage.

In the course of implementation, sections of Nassauer Gestück were broken up to widen the bed area. The stones were then loosely reintroduced into the stream bed and the bank area to serve as a natural structure and habitat for stone crabs. In addition, near-natural disturbance elements such as rootstocks and structural elements such as gravel deposits were introduced.

In total, the paved riverbed was broken up by hand at 21 points with a length of 5 meters and at 9 points with a length of 10 meters. The stone crayfish found there were removed and transferred to the upper course of the Wickerbach in the already renaturalized area "Aubach, Im Kilsloch" according to the instructions of the ecological construction supervision.

The watercourse was demarcated up to the upper edge of the embankment by Taunus quartzite to prevent mowing right up to the edge of the watercourse. This allows the riparian fringe to develop gradually within the watercourse parcel.
Below August-Ruf-Straße, a 10-metre wide strip of water was acquired, a "new channel" was dug out and thus a floodplain ready for high water was created. At low water levels, the water remains in the original stream bed, allowing organisms to continue to migrate through it

The aquatic organisms benefit: New habitats are created by restoring continuity, reconnecting biotopes and upgrading the structure. In addition, the landscape of the watercourse is enhanced.