- The Administration at the federal level encourages cross-border coordination on both tanks of the Oder River.
The federal administration is now concentrating on enhanced cross-border collaboration on water matters along the Oder. In northeastern Brandenburg, it's concerning managing water scarcity, in the Oderbruch region, it's about flood defenses, and in the Ueckermünde Heath, it's about boosting entire rural communities via rehabilitation, summarized a representative from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Overcoming these issues necessitates collaboration "between planning and water management, and also between actors from both Oder sides."
Border-wide actions make sense in these areas, since water disregards boundaries and flows wherever it can, stated Federal Interior Minister Klara Geywitz. This is applicable to several aspects: flood defenses can only be effective if all neighboring countries act in unison and collaboratively. Anybody constructing a dam should communicate with their neighbor across the river, proposed the SPD politician, according to the prepared speech script. The same rationale applies to water scarcity, drought, and drought. "Anybody drilling a well should also communicate with their neighbor."
Water-related projects aim to educate everyone
The Federal Ministry of the Interior is supporting water projects along the Oder, attaching the condition that "information is shared with everyone, regardless of their proximity to the Oder." One project seeks to enhance the regional water equilibrium in the German-Polish border area. The aim is, among other things, to capitalize on synergies between water storage and flood defenses. Around 200,000 euros in funding is allocated for this project.
Another funded project concentrates on preventive flood defenses. Risk assessments are to be developed, integrating land-use planning and informing residents. The third model project targets reestablishing the regional water equilibrium in the Ueckermünde Heath. The goal in Rothenklempenow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is to stabilize the landscape water equilibrium. "This region experiences dry spells, which negatively impacts agriculture and population growth," the ministry representative clarified. This water management strategy also involves Polish border communities.
Additional details
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The recent flooding in various areas along the Oder has highlighted the need for improved cross-border collaboration on flood defenses. In light of this, anybody constructing a flood barrier in one country should communicate and collaborate with their neighboring country to ensure effective flood defense.
Despite the focus on managing water scarcity and boosting rural communities, flooding remains a significant challenge along the Oder. Efforts to mitigate flood risks should include not only building flood defenses but also sharing information and collaborating across borders to enhance overall effectiveness.
