Cottbus' Baltic Sea Soars to All-Time Flooding Record
Leag, the Baltic Sea's operator, announced that the body of water has reached a previously unheard-of filling record during its current flood phase. As of now, a staggering 3.8 cubic meters of water per second are cascading from the Spree into the lake. This flood will likely make the Baltic Sea the largest artificial lake in Germany. Currently, it's leveling out at 58.7 meters above sea level. With a daily rise of 2-3 centimeters, Thomas Koch, the Head of Geotechnical Engineering, points out that we can't predict if this stunning growth will persist into the next week. It all depends on the weather and rainfall.
"Assuming we continue to see rainfall, the lake bed could overflow in approximately five weeks," asserts Koch. This new record water level, complete with an impenetrable water cover, would certainly alter the landscape. However, Koch emphasizes the importance of safety measures, suggesting that the lake shouldn't be entered until it's been cleared and fences dismantled.
The Baltic Sea's reshaping process will necessitate a revamping of the lake's banks. Roughly 4.5 kilometers of the intended shoreline has already been reinforced, explains Koch.
This expansive lake, originating from a former open-cast mine, will boast a water surface area of nearly 19 square kilometers once full. This makes it larger than the Schwielochsee and Scharmützelsee, and almost double the size of the Großer Müggelsee. The lake should attain the minimum height of 2.7 meters in the middle by 2025, marking the end of flooding, which originated in April 2019 and was subsequently suspended on multiple occasions due to prolonged drought.
Filling the Baltic Sea carries significant implications beyond environmental and geographic transformations. The enormous water body, host to various aquatic species, will see a vast expansion of available habitats. Numerous lakes created by the mining activity and subsequent flooding will enrich local ecosystems and waterbird populations.
Climate change is accelerating flooding across Germany, especially in regions like the North Sea provinces and the Baltic Sea area. While the Baltic Sea in Cottbus is not explicitly mentioned, its surrounding area may be vulnerable to flooding trends.
As Germany braces for the impacts of climate change, flood risk assessments specific to Cottbus need to be considered. Precise information about current and projected water levels must be sought from these studies to make informed decisions regarding safety measures and further development plans.
