The 12 historical hydropower plants from the 19th and early 20th centuries on the Aabach river between Seegräben/Wetzikon and Uster are relics of one of the earliest industrial regions in continental Europe. The power plant chain and its facilities are of the greatest importance in terms of cultural history and monument preservation. To ensure that the facilities still standing today can be maintained over the long term, they must comply with current legal requirements, in particular the provisions of the revised Waters Protection Act (prohibition of hydropeaking, improvement of residual water conditions, establishing fish passability). The requirements for the preservation of historical monuments include the preservation and restoration of the facilities, careful integration of new parts of the facility and the creation of official protected status. A contribution from the lottery fund of the canton of Zurich aims to enable the maintenance and operation of the facilities in the long term. Renovation projects for the individual hydropower plants are being prepared by various planning offices.

TBF advises and supports project management (Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air (AWEL)/Office for Spatial Development (ARE)) in the execution and coordination of the preservation and renovation project.