waters" and had already been documented by the Greek geographer, Strabo (ca. 63 ..–.. 23). Ecology The Franconian Saale has been altered by man for centuries in order to farm the Saale valley more intensively. The river was straightened by cutting across its meanders. The width of the river has also been standardized for long sections. Riparian forests were cleared and its banks reinforced, water mills and small hydropower stations and weirs were built and former flood zones were built on. All this has seriously affected the ecological function of the river. Embankments and dams change its flow rate and consistency (Durchgängigkeit), destroying the unity of the river and meadow and encouraging devastating flooding. For several years the water authority in Schweinfurt has instigated projects to try, at least in part, to return the Franconian Saale to its former ecological role by removing bank reinforcements, circumnavigating weirs and regenerating riparian woodland. Fauna The Franconian Saale is a habitat for the European eel, Chub, Ide, Grayling, Brown trout, Stone Loach, Barbel Bitterling, Bream, Minnow, Perch, Gudgeon, Dace, Pike, Ruffe, Bullhead, Nase, Roach, Rudd, Burbot and Carp, as well as the occasional Signal crayfish. Flooding Towns and villages close to the Saale that are particularly affected by regular flooding are Bad Kissingen, Westheim, Diebach, Gräfendorf, Wolfsmünster and Gemünden, as the highwater marks on historic buildings show. Bad Kissingen rarely escapes several flooding each year. However, flood protection measures involving the construction of weirs and defensive barriers have been implemented in its historic town centre. Gauging stations Gauging stations are located in Bad Kissingen (the Prinzregentenbau Gauge) and Wolfsmünster (Saale Bridge Gauge). The measurements are published by the Schweinfurt Water Authority (Wasserwirtschaftsamt Schweinfurt). Tributaries After the confluence of the two headstreams the following tributaries flow into the Franconian Saale: The Krummengraben near Bad Königshofen (from the right) The Barget near Kleineibstadt (from the left) The Milz near Saal an der Saale (from the right) The Streu near Heustreu (from the right) The Brend in Bad Neustadt (from the right) The Lauer near Niederlauer (from the left) der Kellersbach between Steinach and Roth an der Saale (from the right) The Aschach near Aschach (from the right) The Thulba near Hammelburg (from the right) The Schondra in Gräfendorf (from the right) The Sinn in Gemünden (from the right) A comprehensive list including the smaller tributaries is in the List of tributaries of the Franconian Saale