Munich is the most densely populated and one of the fastest growing city in Germany. The city’s sustainability goals are challenged by loss of green space, increased flooding and heat waves. The Munich Metropolitan Region is home to six million people and is a top-ranked destination for immigrants and expatriates. The Isar River crosses the city and has always played an important role in the region’s development and profile. It has powered mills, transported timber and provides electricity, recreation and ecological qualities to residents and visitors alike. More frequent floods beginning in the 1980s, however, have called for an integrated and innovative approach to restoring its original Alpine gravel dynamics as much as possible within the tight manmade corset of Munich.