Elbe threatingly deep: shipping is in front of that!

Elbe threatingly deep: shipping is in front of that!

Parchim, Deutschland - The situation on the Elbe is alarming: the water levels are currently exceptionally low and not only a challenge for shipping, but also a threat to the domestic wildlife. Again and again the continued drought makes headlines. It was only in June there were hardly any precipitation, which further tightened the situation. Today the 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.

Especially in the area of ​​“route 9” between Dömitz and Hitzacker, shipping has almost come to a standstill. There, the fairway must be described as a hip high with a depth of only 50 cm. Sports boats are often stuck and need help to be freed from sandbars. In Hitzacker, the harbor master even advises trips to the harbor, which caused some boat owners to put their plans on hold.

The effects on the animal world

The extensive low water levels are not only a nuisance for boaters, they also have dramatic consequences for the fauna of the Elbe. Fischer reports from drying tributaries and falling oxygen values ​​in the water, which is particularly critical of the port of Hamburg. The oxygen content there is just 3.5 mg/l - a value that is dangerous for many living things. In the Stade region, on the other hand, the values ​​are a little better and are between 6.5 and 7 mg/l. The Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, coastal and nature conservation reacts to these worrying changes with a special measurement program for the examination of the water quality, as taz reports.

Experts of the NLWKN warn that the low water levels pose a threat to fish stocks and other water creatures. The water level in Neu Darchau is 37 cm below the middle low water and is one of the lowest values ​​since the start of the recordings. Overall, this value has only been undercut six times since 1874.

climate change as the main cause

The current drought is not only caused by the past few months of dryness. Such extreme conditions are also the result of the dry years 2018 to 2020 and 2022. The lack of snow melt in winter has further tightened the situation. According to a survey by the Federal Environment Office, there are significant relationships between climate change and the changes in water availability, as is examined in the Wadklim project. The effects on the water supply, soil water balance and groundwater availability in Germany are analyzed in order to develop solutions for future usage conflicts, the Federal Environment Agency.

The Elbe ferries in Hitzacker and Neu Darchau have already stopped operating, which particularly results in long detours for school children. Agricultural companies also suffer from the new conditions, while forest fires rage in the Harz. In this situation, it is more important than ever to keep an eye on the water levels and to inform everyone involved, from boat drivers to residents.

There are no significant rainfall in sight for the coming days, so that the situation remains tense. The hope for improvement is disappearing and it remains to be seen which measures are taken in the region in order to be able to counter the challenges of this rare weather conditions.