Flood Protection: Black Elster River to Get More Space - Brandenburg Enhances Black Elster River Flood Protection with New Floodplains and Dyke Relocation
The Ministry for the Environment in Brandenburg is taking steps to enhance flood protection along the Black Elster River. The river, prone to flooding, will benefit from the creation of additional floodplains and controlled overflow areas. A dyke south of Bad Liebenwerda is set to be relocated to provide more space for the river during floods.
The Black Elster River, a trouble spot among Brandenburg's rivers, has been heavily channelized and straightened. This project aims to improve flood protection for adjacent communities by allowing controlled overflows in designated areas. The river, originating in the Lusatian Mountains, flows through the districts of Oberspreewald-Lausitz and Elbe-Elster before emptying into the Elbe in Saxony-Anhalt.
Past floods have led to dyke overflows and breaches. To mitigate this, iron hydroxide sludge, a byproduct of open-cast mining in Lusatia, will continue to be dredged from the river to improve flow. The timeline for the dyke relocation south of Bad Liebenwerda, as announced by Minister Hanka Mittelstaedt, is yet to be specified.
The Ministry's plans for the Black Elster River involve creating more floodplains and controlled overflow areas. A dyke south of Bad Liebenwerda will be relocated to provide additional space for the river during floods. These measures aim to better protect communities along the river and improve its overall flow.
