Environment Minister - Backhaus: slight relaxation in MV's water balance
After years of sometimes considerable precipitation deficits, there are signs of improvement in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 2023, according to Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD). In particular, the rain and snow of recent months has led to "a slight relaxation in the overall water balance after a long time". Water levels have risen significantly throughout the state, the minister announced in Schwerin on Wednesday. Precipitation levels were above the long-term average.
Smaller catchment areas reacted much faster and more strongly to persistent rainfall. This could already lead to typical seasonal flooding. "However, we do not currently see an acute flood risk," Backhaus emphasized. The Elbe, for example, had carried so little water until recently that it was now well able to drain both the large amounts of precipitation and the melting snow. In contrast to the current situation in southern Germany, there is currently no danger to built-up areas. In addition, the flood protection systems on the Elbe and Peene are in good condition, as the dyke inspections in October showed.
According to Backhaus, the lakes in the state have the water levels typical and targeted for the time of year. "With a water level of 109 centimetres at the Werderbrücke gauge, Lake Schwerin has already reached the management target for January," the Minister noted. On the Müritz, the water level at Waren is only two centimetres below the target for December. However, it is still almost 30 centimetres short of the 220-centimetre reservoir target for April. However, many standing waters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are still clearly marked by the past dry periods. In Western Pomerania in particular, the water levels of the lakes are still well below the target values.
There is also a slightly positive trend for groundwater. In the upper aquifers, the long-term average values have been reached or exceeded. However, the lower-lying aquifers still show values well below the long-term average. "The reaction times of the aquifers here are very long, so it may take many months before average water levels are reached again," explained Backhaus.
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Source: www.stern.de
