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Uniform traffic regulations aimed for Lusatian lakes.

The waters of Lusatia, situated in Brandenburg and Saxony, have various regulations that cause frustration among water sports enthusiasts. However, this situation is expected to improve soon.

Lake Großräschen is one of the waters in Lusatia that are to be opened up for water sports and...
Lake Großräschen is one of the waters in Lusatia that are to be opened up for water sports and swimming.

Brandenburg and Saxony are striving to establish consistent traffic rules for the Lausitzer Seen, a series of lakes spread across both states. The objective is to enhance the touristic exploitation of the recently created lignite mining lakes in the Lausitz region, according to the Transport Ministry in Potsdam's response to an SPD parliamentary group inquiry. Out of the 23 water bodies in the Lausitzer Seen area, 10 will be connected via canals.

Right now, more restrictive traffic regulations are in place for Brandenburg's water bodies than for Saxony's. For instance, in Brandenburg, small vessels up to 20 meters long can travel at a maximum speed of 15 kilometers per hour, while in Saxony, twice that speed is permitted. In Brandenburg, there's a boating ban from 10pm to 5am, while in Saxony, boats can be used throughout the night. Whilst private boats can be used all year round on Saxony's water bodies, this is only allowed in Brandenburg from April 1 to October 31.

Since 2022, negotiations have taken place with the Saxon Economic Ministry about "standardizing shipping regulations." The Potsdam Transport Ministry confirmed this following a query. The focal point is on harmonizing maximum speed limits and the mandatory onboard safety equipment. As opposed to Saxony, Brandenburg has intricate guidelines on safety equipment, like life jackets or life rings, in its shipping rules.

The water police of both states have been patrolling the Lausitzer Seen in tandem since 2013. Originally, a joint ship departed from the Geierswalder See harbor. This 6.2 square kilometer lignite mining lake is situated in southeastern Brandenburg and northeastern Saxony, about 20 kilometers east of Senftenberg. Since mid-2021, both departments have been sharing an office at the Geierswalder See, where only the Saxon portion is accessible.

The utilization of the lake and the Brandenburg-side shoreline of the Geierswalder See and the 11 square kilometer Partwitzer See is constrained due to ongoing remediation efforts by the Lausitzer and Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft (LMBV). According to the Potsdam Transport Ministry, it's unclear when the Brandenburg parts of the lakes will be declared navigable by the LMBV, the property owner. The work on the water surface is completed, but the restoration operations along the shores continue. A conclusion is anticipated in the coming years.

The LMBV has already set a deadline for the completion of remediation work on other water bodies. As a result, boating, swimming, and various water sports should be feasible on the Seedlitzer and Großräschener See, as well as the Ilsekanal, the Rosendorfer, and the Sornoer Kanal, in principle, by the 2026 season. Discussions are already underway with the LMBV for the provisional use of the lignite mining rest lakes in Brandenburg.

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