Red alarm level: Spree and Black Elster fight against drastic drastics

Red alarm level: Spree and Black Elster fight against drastic drastics

Cottbus, Deutschland - The city of Cottbus and the surrounding regions face a serious challenge. In the months from February to May 2025, the precipitation in the region fell to a historically low level that has not been seen since 1976 and 2003. More than three and a half months without sufficient rain have meant that the drains in the Spree and the Black Elster have dropped dramatically. But the measures to combat the situation have already started: the taxes of the Spremberg dam and the Storic basin Niemtsch have been increased to stabilize this negative trend, such as [Cityreport.pnr24-online.de] (https://cityreport.pnr24-online.de/monatelang-zu-wenschlcht- zu-sinkenden-bluessen- and-and-schwarzer-erste-erste-werden-werden-metzt/)

The recent precipitation values ​​are alarming: by the end of May 2025, only 127 millimeters of rain were measured at the Cottbus station, which is about 60% of normal precipitation. The period from February to May is particularly critical, in which only 44% of the average rain fell. Even compared to the extreme dry years 2018 to 2020 and 2022, the rainfall 2025 cannot keep up. Despite a wet start in June, no significant improvements could be observed, which further exacerbated the risk of a water lack in the region

measures for low water management

In order to counter the negative effects of the drought, minor water withdrawals from side waters were reduced. From June 5, 2025, the first measures in accordance with level 1 of the low -water management concept will be actively implemented in the Spree area. The drains in the catchment area of ​​the Spree and the Black Elster are declining greatly during the current growing season, so that the minimum outflow of 4.5 cubic meters per second is now permanently below.

The drains on the level Biehlen, which has been supported with water from the memory pool Niemtsch since the 15th calendar week, is currently 0.625 cubic meters per second, which is about 50% of the mean drainage for June. The support is also carried out by the Rainitza mine water cleaning system, which provides additional amounts of water.

need for adaptation from climate change

Particular attention is paid to the climatic changes that affect the water supply. According to the Federal Environment Agency, climate research shows that the rainfall increasingly shift to the winter months while the temperatures rise. This can lead to an increasing potential for conflict in water use, especially if several dry years comply with. Ultimately, an ascertained groundwater reservoir could no longer cover all water -conditions, which is an enormous challenge for the Brandenburg region.

In this context, the project "Effecting Climate Change on Water availability / adaptation to dryness and drought in Germany" (Wadklim) was created. This initiative is carried out jointly by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Security and Consumer Protection as well as the Federal Environment Agency and focuses on the effects of dryness and drought on the water balance as well as the development of recommendations for action for water management. A clever strategy is required here to be better adapted to the changed conditions.

Certain events in the past, such as low -precipitation 2018 and 2019, have already shown a need for action. A cross -border working group that developed the river area strategy for Spree, Black Elster and Lausitzer Neiße was launched under the direction of the State Office for Environmental Brandenburg to master the challenges, so lfu.brandenburg.de.

The situation in Cottbus and the surrounding area remains tense, and a close observation of the water levels and drains will be necessary to develop sustainable solutions that meet the wishes of agriculture, the population and nature.