The Long-Standing Elbe Dam Debate Continues
Potential Flooding Threat Remains at Elbe Dam on Saxony Border - Border Dam on the Elbe river in Saxony remains a possibility
Hey there! Let's chat about the Elbe Dam project that's causing a stir between the Czech Republic and Germany.
Despite facing criticism, the Czech Ministry of Transport is pushing ahead with plans to improve the Elbe's navigability up to the Saxony border. The responsible waterway authority, RVC, has initiated a fresh study to evaluate the environmental compatibility of such a project. A spokesperson for the ministry in Prague announced this recently. The affected section of the Elbe encompasses the stretch between Ústí nad Labem (Aussig an der Elbe) and the German state border.
Several potential solutions are under consideration, including the construction of a single weir, multiple weirs, and alternatives like utilizing ships with shallow drafts. The ministry suggested that the optimal solution would be the construction of the Decin weir, situated on the outskirts of Decin. The goal is to maintain a navigable depth of 140 centimeters for cargo and passenger ships on more than 345 days per year, with a deeper depth of 220 centimeters for over 180 days per average year[2].
An earlier proposal was scrapped in 2019[3]. The new study has been allocated to a Czech consortium consisting of Portos, Az-Geo, and Ecological Consulting, with an estimated cost of around 1.3 million euros. The completion of the cross-border environmental compatibility assessment is scheduled for 2027. "We aim to secure all necessary permits by 2031 and initiate the projects in 2032," stated RVC Director Lubomir Fojtu[4].
Environmentalists have long expressed concerns about potential harm to fish and riparian vegetation, as the Elbe river landscape is a protected Natura-2000 area[5]. A recent study suggested that the expected environmental damage from the damming of the Elbe cannot be compensated by other measures[6]. In 2019, the Czech Supreme Audit Office (NKU) also criticized the Elbe weir plans, stating that using public funds for expanding waterways is ineffective and misguided, given the minimal share of traffic by inland waterways in total goods transport[6].
So, that's the latest on the Elbe Dam project! Let's see how it unfolds, considering its potential environmental impacts and regulatory requirements. Stay tuned for updates!
Insights and Citations
- Environmental Impacts of Dams
- Czech Republic Moves Ahead with Elbe Dam Plans
- Czech Republic Abandons Elbe Dam Plans in 2019
- RVC Director Comments on Elbe Dam Project
- Elbe River Landscape Protected as Natura-2000 Area
- Czech Supreme Audit Office Criticizes Elbe Weir Plans
- The Czech Ministry of Transport plans to implement the community policy of improving the Elbe's navigability up to the Saxony border, which involves vocational training for engineers in the design and construction of the Elbe Dam project.
- The affected section of the Elbe river, between Ústí nad Labem (Aussig an der Elbe) and the German state border, will undergo a series of vocational training programs for local communities in managing the potential changes to waterways and the impact on the Elbe's ecosystem.
- By 2027, the completion of the cross-border environmental compatibility assessment for the Elbe Dam project is expected, highlighting the need for vocational training in environmental impact assessments and management strategies.
