- Minister of Environment announces clean river programme
Saxony aims to improve water quality in flowing waters. "We have invested heavily in the quality of our rivers and streams over the past five years. But too many waters are still in a worrying state. We need to change that," said Environment Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) to the German Press Agency and announced a program "100 living streams for Saxony". It is to set clear goals for specific waters and include model projects.
"We have renatured rivers throughout the country in the last five years. We have restored living river landscapes between Spree and Pleiße. We have reconnected old river arms. We have removed weirs and sills in many waters to allow aquatic organisms to use the entire watercourse again," the minister listed.
Above all, a lot of space has been regained for natural flood protection - 1,781 hectares. This corresponds to approximately 2,500 football fields. After the major floods in Saxony, this is an extremely important pillar alongside technical flood protection.
Municipalities are to be better supported in protecting waters.
"And we have finally made progress in saving the Leipzig floodplain forest. It now has more water in important areas and, above all, a perspective for further improvements. Because it is to become a major nature conservation project," explained Günther.
In water protection, it is important to involve municipalities more strongly as co-responsible parties. "That means we as a Free State have to do more and we have to support the municipalities even more in improving the condition of the rivers and streams that are in their responsibility."
Günther: Previous efforts are not enough
"In summary: We have achieved a lot. But that's not enough yet," said Günther. The pressure to act is high due to climate change and species extinction. There is a legal obligation from the European Water Framework Directive, for the implementation of which too little has been done politically for two decades. "Therefore, we need a follow-up program."
According to the Ministry of Environment, more than 600 measures to improve water structure and renaturation have been implemented since 2019. Alone for the upgrading of waters and renaturation, around 33 million euros were invested.
According to the Ministry of Environment, there are 558 flowing waters and 30 so-called standing waters in Saxony that are subject to reporting obligations under the EU Water Framework Directive. The EU Water Framework Directive has been in force since the year 2000 and provides that flowing and standing waters throughout the EU are to be brought into a good ecological state by the year 2027.
According to the ministry, only around 7 percent of flowing waters and 43 percent of standing waters in Saxony are in a good ecological state. This puts us in the middle range nationwide.
"The low percentage of waters in a good ecological state in Saxony highlights the need for continuous efforts in improving water quality, particularly flowing waters."
"As part of the '100 living streams for Saxony' program, specific goals will be set for certain waters, focusing on improving their overall quality, including water quality."
