Application of the Integrated Water Management Approach
217
Biosphere ReselVation
Spree forest
Fig.1. Research area and task groups (Kongeter, 2001)
lower River Spree
Middle River Spree .nd
Spree Forest
Upper River Spree
For the past century, lignite mining was the main source of energy in Saxony.
For the work in the open pits the groundwater had to be lowered. The drainage
water was pipelined into receiving streams, in particular the River Spree. Consequently, lowered groundwater levels characterized the water regime of the River
Spree and mean discharges, which were doubled compared to natural conditions.
About 21000 million m 3 of water are needed to refill the aquifers and the open
pits. Since the leading-in of groundwater into the River Spree has been stopped,
the mean flow has been decreased to less than its natural level. Because of the
considerably high infiltration rates, many thousand cubic meters of river - water
seep away. The multiple water demands from the open pits, from industry and
population lead to not only water scarcity but also water quality - problems. This
process is aggravated by the fact that average precipitation in this area is sparse
and that the transport of water from other water systems is uneconomical.
The River Spree is a slow - flowing river with sudden and heavy high waters.
The river is well known for its lakes and nature parks, in particular the biosphere
reservation Spree Forest. For a characterization, three sections of the catchment
area of the River Spree can be identified. The first section runs from the river's
source down to the gauge LieskelUhyst approximately and will in the further text
be referred to as the Upper River Spree. The part down to the Spree Forest is referred to as the Middle River Spree. The three reservoirs, Bautzen, Quitzdorf and
217
Biosphere ReselVation
Spree forest
Fig.1. Research area and task groups (Kongeter, 2001)
lower River Spree
Middle River Spree .nd
Spree Forest
Upper River Spree
For the past century, lignite mining was the main source of energy in Saxony.
For the work in the open pits the groundwater had to be lowered. The drainage
water was pipelined into receiving streams, in particular the River Spree. Consequently, lowered groundwater levels characterized the water regime of the River
Spree and mean discharges, which were doubled compared to natural conditions.
About 21000 million m 3 of water are needed to refill the aquifers and the open
pits. Since the leading-in of groundwater into the River Spree has been stopped,
the mean flow has been decreased to less than its natural level. Because of the
considerably high infiltration rates, many thousand cubic meters of river - water
seep away. The multiple water demands from the open pits, from industry and
population lead to not only water scarcity but also water quality - problems. This
process is aggravated by the fact that average precipitation in this area is sparse
and that the transport of water from other water systems is uneconomical.
The River Spree is a slow - flowing river with sudden and heavy high waters.
The river is well known for its lakes and nature parks, in particular the biosphere
reservation Spree Forest. For a characterization, three sections of the catchment
area of the River Spree can be identified. The first section runs from the river's
source down to the gauge LieskelUhyst approximately and will in the further text
be referred to as the Upper River Spree. The part down to the Spree Forest is referred to as the Middle River Spree. The three reservoirs, Bautzen, Quitzdorf and