Elbe threateningly deep: shipping is on the verge of extinction!

Elbe threateningly deep: shipping is on the verge of extinction!

The situation on the Elbe is alarming: the water levels are currently exceptionally low and represent not only a challenge for shipping, but also a threat to the local wildlife. The persistent drought continues to make headlines. It wasn't until June that there was hardly any rainfall, which further exacerbated the situation. Today the water level in Neu Darchau shows a water level of only 83 cm - an alarming sign that we have not seen in the region for a long time, as NDR reports.

Shipping has almost come to a standstill, especially in the area of ​​“Route 9” between Dömitz and Hitzacker. There the fairway must be described as waist-high with only 50 cm of water depth. Recreational boats are often stuck and require assistance to free themselves from sandbars. In Hitzacker, the harbor master even advises against trips to the harbor, which has caused some boat owners to put their plans on hold.

The impact on wildlife

The extensive low water levels are not only a nuisance for boaters, they also have dramatic consequences for the fauna of the Elbe. Fishermen report drying up tributaries and falling oxygen levels in the water, which is particularly critical in the port of Hamburg. The oxygen content there is just 3.5 mg/l - a value that is dangerous for many living beings. In the Stade region, however, the values ​​are slightly better and are between 6.5 and 7 mg/l. The Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation is responding to these worrying changes with a special measurement program to examine water quality, as taz reports.

NLWKN experts warn that the low water levels pose a danger to fish stocks and other aquatic life. The water level in Neu Darchau is 37 cm below mean low water and is one of the lowest values ​​since records began. In total, this value has only been fallen below six times since 1874.

Climate change as the main cause

The current drought is not only caused by the past few months of drought. Such extreme conditions are also the result of the dry years 2018 to 2020 and 2022. The lack of snowmelt in winter has further exacerbated the situation. According to a survey by the Federal Environment Agency, there are clear connections between climate change and changes in water availability, as investigated in the WADKlim project. The effects on water supply, soil water balance and groundwater availability in Germany are analyzed in order to develop solutions for future usage conflicts, informs the Umweltbundesamt.

The Elbe ferries in Hitzacker and Neu Darchau have already stopped operating, which means long detours, especially for school children. Agricultural businesses are also suffering from the new conditions, while forest fires are raging in the Harz Mountains. In this situation, it is more important than ever to keep an eye on water levels and inform everyone involved, from boaters to residents.

There is no significant rainfall in sight for the coming days, so the situation remains tense. Hope for improvement is fading and it remains to be seen what measures will be taken in the region to meet the challenges of these rare weather conditions.