Saxony’s rivers are currently presenting a rather bleak picture in many places: the Elbe, Mulde, and others are experiencing low water levels. According to the State Environmental Agency, low water levels are currently being recorded at half of the 149 gauging stations monitored statewide. This figure has risen significantly compared to the previous week. Low water levels mean that much less water is flowing through the monitoring stations than usual.
On Tuesday evening, a flow rate of around 100 cubic meters per second was recorded on the Elbe in Dresden. There, water levels below 109 cubic meters per second are considered low. Hydrologists are also currently measuring low water levels in rivers such as the Freiberger Mulde in Central Saxony, the Pleiße and the Parthe near Leipzig, and the Schwarze Elster in Eastern Saxony.
According to the State Environmental Agency, the lack of water in the rivers is the result of prolonged dry spells. This puts a strain on the water bodies and the animals and plants living in them, as temperatures rise and oxygen levels drop, among other effects.
