Water management through change: Future for the Feldberger Lake Landscape!

Water management through change: Future for the Feldberger Lake Landscape!

The fields and forests around the Feldberg lake landscape face a major challenge: climate change not only brings the biodiversity out of balance, but also questions the traditional water management. In this context, the Climate and Culture Association and the BUND local group Feldberger Lake Landscape invite you to an information event that takes place on Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. in the Haus des Gastes at Strelitzer Straße 42 in Feldberg. The target group are citizens, conservationists and farmers who want to deal intensively with the topic of water as part of the landscape. Strelitzius reports that the focus of this event is on the question of how water can be kept in the landscape and what practical implementations are necessary.

The change in water management is particularly noteworthy, which is urgently necessary. In the past, the derivation of water was considered progress, which, however, led to dry soils, a decline in biodiversity as well as increasing dry periods and floods. A paradigm shift is required to save water in bogs, floors, rivers, söllen and forests and thus protect the climate and to strengthen the resistance to extreme weather conditions.

networking and practical approaches

The problem around the water supply not only runs through the Feldberg Lake Landscape. In Germany, water suppliers are increasingly struggling with bottlenecks for long heat periods. According to a report by tagesschau.de , even regions with sufficient water resources reach the limits of their infrastructure. In hot summer days, as in 2022, nuclear cooling systems in France have already been difficult for water.

The situation in Germany is no better: the Corona pandemic led to the water requirement rising suddenly, especially by filling pools. Professor Tobias Licha, an expert in hydrogeochemistry, warns that the existing systems for storing water and preparation often no longer work at higher temperatures above 30 degrees. An example of this is glue in Baden-Württemberg, where the high groundwater level in the hot summer months cannot cover the need.

The urgency of action

With a decline in water levels in some regions of Germany by up to two meters, the need to do sustainably, more urgent than ever. Water expert Seicha advises to only remove as much water as it comes from precipitation to secure the water supply in the long term. Even rainy periods were unable to fill the natural water reservoirs sufficiently. This brings with it the risk of usage conflicts in summer when water is needed for various purposes, be it for cooling, agriculture or private use.

The upcoming event in Feldberg could not only be important for the region, but also make a contribution to a superordinate discourse on water management and climate protection. The commitment of citizens and experts will be decisive for how the fields and forests of the Feldberg Lake Landscape will develop in the coming years.