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The Elbe River is 724 miles long, with a total drainage area of 55,620 square miles (Friedrich & Grimm, 1999). The river “rises on the southern side of the Krkonose Mountains near the border of the Czech Republic and Poland” (Friedrich & Grimm, 1999), continuing counter-clockwise through the northern part of the Czech Republic, where a majority of its flow is through the northwestern portion of Germany. The mouth of the river is located at the North Sea.

Friedrich, H., & Grimm, F. (1999). Elbe River. https://www.britannica.com/place/Elbe-River.

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There are all kinds of land usages along the Elbe River. The usage consists of artificial surfaces, forests and semi natural areas, and agricultural areas. Artificial surfaces include urban fabric, industrial, commercial and transport units, mine, dump and construction sites, non-agricultural vegetated areas, wetlands, and water bodies. Semi natural areas include forests, scrub vegetation, and open spaces with little/no vegetation. Agricultural areas consist of arable land, permanent crops and pastures. Finally, there are inland and maritime wetlands, and inland and marine waters (“Land Use in the German Elbe Basin”, 2017).

(Click to expand land use map!)

Land Use in the German Elbe Basin. European Environment Agency. (2017). https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/land-use-in-the-german.

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The average precipitation levels of the Elbe River basin range from 450 mm to 1700 mm. The average annual precipitation rate is 628 mm. Lower precipitation records are found in low mountain/rain shadow areas, while precipitation levels in the 1000 mm range are found at higher elevations.

International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River.  https://www.ikse-mkol.org/en/themen/die-elbe/.

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Many different types of plant species, aquatic species, and mammals live along the river including:

Over 1,300 plant species

"Of these, approximately 400 species are listed in the IUCN Red List of endangered ferns and flowering plants"

700 species of butterflies/moths

151 bird species

12 of the 19 amphibian species native to Germany

Beavers

Sheep

Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve, Germany. UNESCO. (2018, October). https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/eu-na/flusslandschaft-elbe.

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Being the 4th largest river basin in Central Europe, the Elbe River's catchment area is almost 25 million people. A majority of the people, about 18.5 million, live in Germany. About 735 million cubic meters of drinking water is drawn from the river each year.

More recently, the Elbe seems to be facing alarmingly dangerous water levels. Below is a video link describing how weather changes and an increase in droughts is negatively impacting the river.

German Environment Agency. Elbe. https://www.umweltprobenbank.de/en/documents/profiles/sampling_areas/10042.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. (2019, November 11). Study the alarming cause of water shortages in Germany. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/video/179513/droughts-floods-groundwater-shortages-water-supply-Germany.

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Study the alarming cause of water shortages in Germany Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz

NARRATOR: Alarming pictures from Germany. Periods of drought are becoming ever more frequent. Entire riverbeds are drying up and the water levels of the River Elbe's tributaries are being thrown off balance. But pictures of the capital don't show any signs of a water shortage. Berlin's fountains are at full flow, despite evaporating tributaries. The River Spree, paradoxically, is full. Professor Uwe Grünewald and his colleagues at the University of Cottbus want to measure river water levels in the vicinity of a lignite mining area. The rivers are more than full here. The researchers know that this has to do with the coal mine. Pumping stations line the nearby streets and systematically pump groundwater up from the earth and channel it into the rivers. Every ton of coal requires seven tons of groundwater. This pump water artificially raises the water level and that's why Berlin is so rich in water. Should the mine ever be closed down, however, less water would flow into the rivers feeding Berlin. Away from the mine, the far-reaching impact of climate change is crystal clear. Groundwater levels have been dropping significantly everywhere. Mainframe computers collate the data and their projections offer us a glimpse into the future. Their climate scenarios are alarming. The red areas show that precipitation will decrease in the future.

FRED F. HATTERMANN: "Our scenario predictions show that this will only continue into the future. By 2050, drier years, like the one we experienced in 2003, could occur once every two, maybe every three years."

NARRATOR: On top of that, extreme weather is becoming ever more frequent. An emergency warning was issued on the River Elbe in 2002. A flash flood caused the river to break its banks. Within a few hours towns and cities were flooded and cut off from the outside world. Regular drinking water treatment plants were unable to cope. The problem was that more rain fell in the space of a few hours than usually falls in the span of several months. This was not a one-off, but rather the prelude to a recurring threat. While levels of precipitation are declining, when it does rain, it pours, which can lead to disaster. In order to keep water levels balanced, the system has to be able to absorb a sudden surplus of water. The solution? Artificial lakes. Scientists want to flood the craters left behind by the old opencast mine. The problem is that the mine has released minerals from deep within the earth that would acidify the water. Scientists are already working on ways of neutralising the acid, but they have to move fast. The mine is on the brink of collapse. Soon there won't be any surplus water left to be directed into the River Spree. The future looks bleak. The drinking water supply is not yet threatened, but Berlin can scarce afford to be wasteful with its water supply in the future.

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Study the alarming cause of water shortages in Germany

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NARRATOR: Alarming pictures from Germany. Periods of drought are becoming ever more frequent. Entire riverbeds are drying up and the water levels of the River Elbe's tributaries are being thrown off balance. But pictures of the capital don't show any signs of a water shortage. Berlin's fountains are at full flow, despite evaporating tributaries.

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The Elbe historically served as a waterway for trade, and still today serves as a major channel for vessels; it is “one of the largest seaports in Europe” (Friedrich & Grimm, 1999).

Friedrich, H., & Grimm, F. (1999). Elbe River. https://www.britannica.com/place/Elbe-River.

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In the Elbe watershed, oil spills and pollution from cruise ships and cargo vessels negatively impact the water quality, causing an imbalance in the Elbe River’s water cycle.
The Elbe River used to be one of the most polluted rivers in Europe. Over the last 40 years, the ICPER has monitored the quality of the water. Now, the water is more oxygenated and the fish population has increased considerably. The ICPER has worked hard to restore the river!

But, accidents still happen. Below is a link for one of the worst oil spills in the history of Hamburg. This spill occurred in the Elbe River in 2011.

The Maritime Executive. (2011, January 11). Collision on Elbe River in Germany Causes Spill. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/2008-07-17-collision-on-elbe-river-in-germany-causes-spill.

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By The Maritime Executive 01-11-2011 11:30:47

Two vessels collide on Elbe River in northern Germany causing a fuel spill. Initial reports said approximately 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel has leaked into river, causing a huge slick. River traffic has been halted.

A barge carrying diesel fuel collided with another vessel in Germany on Wednesday. The incident caused a 10-kilometre-long oil slick on the Elbe river, which empties into the North Sea. Authorities have said that it might be the worst shipping accident near the city of Hamburg in recent memory.

Reportedly, the anchor of one vessel tore open four tanks of the 82-metre tanker barge Undine. The vessels scraped one another along their starboard rails while passing on the busy waterway.

No injuries were reported. Booms were being used to contain what authorities estimate to be as much as 100,000 barrels of fuel. In an effort to limit the damage, the barge unloaded the rest of the 920 tons of diesel it had been carrying.

First responders have hundreds at the site working to control the spill. But, it is too early to know the impact of the environmental damage. Investigators are looking into what caused the ships to collide. Meanwhile, river traffic has been halted.

Link to newsletter archive

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Collision on Elbe River in Germany Causes Spill

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Two vessels collide on Elbe River in northern Germany causing a fuel spill. Initial reports said approximately 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel has leaked into river, causing a huge slick. River traffic has been halted. A barge carrying diesel fuel collided with another vessel in Germany on Wednesday.

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Reunification of Germany- impact on the Elbe

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Reunification of Germany- impact on the Elbe

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As a country, Germany reunified in 1990. This reunification “triggered dramatic changes in the flows of nutrients through the Elbe River Basin” (Hussian & Grimvall, 2003, p. 15).
Through their study,  Hussian & Grimvall (2003) indicated they observed downward trends in both phosphorus and nitrogen levels. A decrease in phosphorus was “found to be considerably smaller close to the mouth of the river” (p. 15), which means a smaller abundance of nutrients have been collected as the river flows down the Krkonose Mountains, through the mainland, and down to the North Sea.

Due to changes in agricultural practices, less nitrogen was being added to topsoil, and there was a decrease in the amount of nitrogen removed through harvesting.

Below is a graph of estimated river-transported nitrogen loads from 1960-2000, and a table showing changes in both phosphorus and nitrogen emissions from 1983-1997 (Hussian & Grimvall, 2003).

Hussian, M., Grimvall, A., & Petersen, W. (2003). Estimation of the Human Impact on Nutrient Loads Carried by the Elbe River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 96(1-3), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:emas.0000031722.88972.62.

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According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), renewable energy has accounted for half of Germany's total electricity generation this year.  A quarter of this energy was wind energy! Two of the world's largest wind turbines are located in Hamburg, just south of the Elbe River.

Below is a pie chart of Germany's total energy consumption (2020).

Fraunhofer ISE. R&D for Energy Transition - Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE - Fraunhofer ISE. (2020).  https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en.html.

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"Streams of refugees in the aftermath of WWII drastically altered the population structure. The largest groups of migrants originate from Asia, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine."

According to "Refuge, Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World", "people seeking refugee are not fleeing poverty, they are fleeing danger" (p. 16). Germany was one of the countries that acted as a safe haven for refugees, due to being such a high-income country.

Today, about 270,000 people live in the reserve!

Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve, Germany. UNESCO. (2018, October). https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/eu-na/flusslandschaft-elbe.

Betts, A., & Collier, P. (2017). Refuge: rethinking refugee policy in a changing world. Oxford University Press.

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"The Elbe was once considered to harbour one of the highest diversity and numbers of fish in European Rivers. Pollution of the river in the 1970s and 1980s, together with the construction of a weir, led to a collapse of the ecosystem and extinction of many species. Subsequent improvement of water quality and construction of a fish pass have led to a recovery in fish abundance and species. Improvement of water quality has affected the biogeochemical cycling of organic carbon in the tidal freshwater zone, which has become as important as the turbidity zone as a filter for organic carbon."

Web Design RUBIK Multimedia. (2017). Elbe Estuary Supersite, Germany. DANUBIUSPP. https://danubius-pp.eu/about/project-structure/wp5-architecture/supersites/elbe-estuary-supersite/.

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"Climate-induced changes in river discharge and air temperature have an effect on the oxygen content of the Elbe Estuary for the near and far future.

Prevention of negative climate-induced effects can be achieved by decreasing the phytoplankton biomass in the Elbe catchment. Sustainable restoration including reduction of nutrient emissions is a convenient measure. Furthermore, more shallow areas in the Elbe Estuary may mitigate the critical oxygen situation."

Hein, B., Viergutz, C., Wyrwa, J., Kirchesch, V., & Schol, A. (2016, July 25). Impacts of climate change on the water quality of the Elbe Estuary (Germany). Taylor & Francis. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23249676.2016.1209438.

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Protection & Management of the River (cont.)

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Protection & Management of the River (cont.)

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The Elbe Floodplain UNESCO Biosphere Reserve runs along 400km of the Elbe, protecting “flooded grasslands, sand dunes… coniferous and mixed forests and lowland marshlands” (MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory).
"Currently, projects focus on the restoration of backwater lakes, beaver and willow management, floodplain forest development, environmental education and the promotion of tourism in the Elbe River region."

MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory. (2007). http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=GER+01.

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Our regional partners – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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The International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River (ICPER) was a commission signed in 1990 in order to protect the river. It is overlooked by Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria, with Germany and the Czech Republic being the contracted parties. The 149-paged PDF document, International Management Plan for the Elbe River Basin District, details a plan period to preserve the river from 2016-2021. Its current focuses are “improving the surface water structure and passability” and “reduction of significant nutrient and pollutant loads” (“International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River”).

International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River. IKSE. https://www.ikse-mkol.org/en/eu-directives/water-framework-directive/international-management-plan-for-the-elbe-river-basin-district/.

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If you ever want to take a cruise along the Elbe, and explore all of the beautiful cities! :)

Viking River Cruises. (2020, June 18). Cities Along the Elbe: Videos. Viking Cruises. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/video/itineraries/play.html?id=158607.

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Cities Along the Elbe | Videos | Viking Cruises

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This 10-day cruisetour from Berlin to Prague (or the reverse) provides enriching opportunities to explore grand historic monuments, elegant palaces, quaint cobblestone streets and mesmerizing landscapes.

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There are dams located in the Czech Republic, Geesthacht, Germany, and on the Saale tributary in the Thuringian Forest, but the dams “are not sufficient to control the water level of the Elbe” (Friedrich & Grimm, 1999).
In 2013, thousands of people in Germany had to evacuate their homes due to a dam breaking. People lost their homes, their farm animals, and some people even lost their own lives. This causes a huge imbalance not only in human lives, but the entire water cycle of the river and the stability of the ecosystem as a whole.

Friedrich, H., & Grimm, F. (1999). Elbe River. https://www.britannica.com/place/Elbe-River.

Below is a news link describing the tragic event.

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MAGDEBURG/GROSS ROSENBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Thousands of people left their homes in eastern Germany on Sunday as a dam burst on the swollen River Elbe and swathes of farmland were flooded in an attempt to spare towns, with meteorologists forecasting more rain.

In Magdeburg, one of the oldest cities in eastern Germany and a regional capital, some 23,000 people were asked to evacuate as water levels in the Elbe rose to a record 7.48 meters, around 5 meters above normal and surpassing the level reached in devastating floods in 2002.

"We helped yesterday to carry sandbags to secure the town. The mood is very depressed and frightened because many people have to leave their homes," said resident Liane Nagen.

There have been at least a dozen deaths as a result of floods that have hit Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic over the past week.

Officials said more than 8,000 people were evacuated by bus from towns and villages around Aken, south of Magdeburg. Some took their pets or farm animals with them.

A dam at the confluence of the River Elbe and the River Saale south of Magdeburg burst despite attempts to stabilize it. A dike was also breached, and a crisis unit said the high waters were likely to put further pressure on dikes in coming days.

Holger Stahlknecht, Interior Minister for the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Magdeburg is located, said air and land surveillance would be stepped up in response to a threat from a previously unheard-of group calling itself the Germanophobic Flood Brigade to attack the sodden dikes.

More than 36,000 people were evacuated across Saxony-Anhalt. In Brandenburg, a largely rural state that surrounds the capital Berlin, some residents were evacuated and flooding of uninhabited areas was planned.

In Hungary, the Danube was also set to reach record levels in the capital Budapest on Sunday night and Prime Minister Viktor Orban said dikes had been strengthened at critical points to protect the city from flooding.

The deluge reached Hungary on Friday but so far authorities, soldiers and thousands of volunteers have managed to defend the villages and towns along the Danube, piling more than three million sandbags beside its dikes.

Carmaker Suzuki, one of Hungary's main exporters, said it would will halt production at its plant in Esztergom, north of Budapest, on Monday because of the floods.

GERMAN ELECTION FACTOR

The damage from the floods in Germany could amount to more than 6 billion euros ($7.93 billion), according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces an election in September, has promised 100 million euros ($130 million) in aid for flooded areas.

"We'll do everything humanly possible when it comes to reconstruction. Germany is sticking together in an admirable way at the moment and it should stay like that," she said.

She has been seen visiting flooded regions and speaking to victims and helpers, unlike her Social Democrat (SPD) challenger Peer Steinbrueck, who told German state television on Sunday he would not get involved in a "rubber boot competition".

"When the worst is over, I'd like to sit down with those affected and discuss in concrete terms what kind of help we can give," he said, adding that he wanted to create an ombudsman to coordinate aid for the victims of flooding.

The pair's response to the flooding could affect their respective chances in the election on September 22. During the floods of 2002, decisive crisis management by SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder gave him a boost in the polls which helped him win a second term.

Along with citizens and emergency services, around 11,000 German soldiers were helping fight the flood waters on Sunday. The situation in cities like Dresden and Halle and in the state of Bavaria had improved. ($1 = 0.7564 euros)

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Thousands of Germans evacuate as dam on Elbe river breaks

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MAGDEBURG/GROSS ROSENBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Thousands of people left their homes in eastern Germany on Sunday as a dam burst on the swollen River Elbe and swathes of farmland were flooded in an attempt to spare towns, with meteorologists forecasting more rain.

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Hussian, M., Grimvall, A., & Petersen, W. (2003). Estimation of the Human Impact on Nutrient Loads Carried by the Elbe River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 96(1-3), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:emas.0000031722.88972.62.

International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River. IKSE. https://www.ikse-mkol.org/en/eu-directives/water-framework-directive/international-management-plan-for-the-elbe-river-basin-district/.

Land Use in the German Elbe Basin. European Environment Agency. (2017). https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/land-use-in-the-german.

MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory. (2007). http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=GER+01.

The Maritime Executive. (2011, January 11). Collision on Elbe River in Germany Causes Spill. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/2008-07-17-collision-on-elbe-river-in-germany-causes-spill.

Viking River Cruises. (2020, June 18). Cities Along the Elbe: Videos. Viking Cruises. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/video/itineraries/play.html?id=158607.

Web Design RUBIK Multimedia. (2017). Elbe Estuary Supersite, Germany. DANUBIUSPP. https://danubius-pp.eu/about/project-structure/wp5-architecture/supersites/elbe-estuary-supersite/.

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Betts, A., & Collier, P. (2017). Refuge: rethinking refugee policy in a changing world. Oxford University Press.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. (2019, November 11). Study the alarming cause of water shortages in Germany. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/video/179513/droughts-floods-groundwater-shortages-water-supply-Germany.

Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve, Germany. UNESCO. (2018, October). https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/eu-na/flusslandschaft-elbe.

Fraunhofer ISE. R&D for Energy Transition - Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE - Fraunhofer ISE. (2020).  https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en.html.

Friedrich, H., & Grimm, F. (1999). Elbe River. https://www.britannica.com/place/Elbe-River.

German Environment Agency. Elbe. https://www.umweltprobenbank.de/en/documents/profiles/sampling_areas/10042.

Hein, B., Viergutz, C., Wyrwa, J., Kirchesch, V., & Schol, A. (2016, July 25). Impacts of climate change on the water quality of the Elbe Estuary (Germany). Taylor & Francis. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23249676.2016.1209438.

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Due to the high volume of vessel transportation, the faulting of dams, and the changing quality of water in the river, I would recommend more soft path solutions to be implemented. Instead of building and using more infrastructure, I believe the Elbe must be restored. The first step is to educate the people surrounding the Elbe and get them involved. If they want to continue living safe and healthy lives, they have to protect this critical watershed they live in!

As stated in previous slides, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a current solution that seems to be working well. The Reserve protects floodplains, forests, manages beavers and willows, and enforces environmental education. New projects are constantly being established, which gives hope for the entire ecosystem- water quality/quantity, plant life, animal life, and human life.