Purpose of the case study:The tidal Elbe is an intensively used waterway which is exposed to storm surges from the North Sea and potentially high water discharges from the Elbe River after specific climatic conditions. Requirements for flood safety and the logistical demands of Europe’s second largest harbour led to extensive modifications of the course of the river, its (navigational) depth and to bank reinforcements. Hence, this stretch of the Elbe will not comply with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive in terms of river morphology. Emissions of nutrients and contaminants in the Elbe catchment will impair compliance with ecological and chemical criteria.

   

Geographical description: The Elbe River is one of the major rivers in Western Europe. From its spring in the Giant Mountains (“Krkonoše Mountains”, Czech Republic) to its mouth at the North Sea near Cuxhaven (Germany) it covers a distance of 1,091 kilometres and a catchment area of 148,268 km²– one third of it located in the Czech Republic and two thirds in the Federal Republic of Germany, smaller areas belonging to Poland and Austria. Along its way the catchment drains some of North and Central Europe’s major cities including Prague, Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg.  With respect to the WFD the Elbe The river basin consist of three different types of water, river, estuary and coastal water.

For the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Elbe River Basin has been divided into 10 coordination areas. This report focuses on the Tidal Elbe including its major city Hamburg.

With 1.7 m inhabitants Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and its 3rd largest industrial area. The most important industry in Hamburg is the harbour - in terms of international reputation, employment and income for Hamburg.

 

Ecological status, main pressures on the watercourse: The quality of the Elbe in Hamburg is influenced by the industrial and political history upstream, by emissions of industrial activities in the city and by morphological adaptations that have been made in order to maintain the harbour’s economical viability and to protect against high water levels. Modifications of harbour basins, river depth and channel width influenced the tidal and sediment dynamic and altered the water flow characteristics as well as the photosynthetically active water volume.

While the water quality of the Elbe has improved with the fall of the Iron Curtain since its bad condition in the 1970s and 1980s, the chemical history of an intensively used industrial region is still reflected in the sediments within the catchment. These are transported downstream, continuously or during periods of high water discharge, partly accumulating in the stillwater zones in Hamburg and potentially remobilizing bound contaminants. Hence, concentrations of organic substances and heavy metals that may become re-introduced into the water phase, may adversely affect compliance with the objectives of the WFD.

 

The tools and methods: An Impact matrix was created that summarises impacts specific to Hamburg in this part of the Elbe River due to various stressors on physico-chemical quality elements, biological quality elements, and hydro morphological elements.

Results and outcomes:The solution to existing or expected conflicts between different stakeholder groups, e.g. the sediment managers, environmentalists and citizens, who perceive a risk for their health or for their employment, can only be solved by long-term planning, communication and trust building. However, in urgent cases, such as the “sudden” and unexpected increase of sediment in the harbour which currently endangers harbour activities, developing a sustainable solution with participation of all stakeholders may not be suitable as this is a time-consuming process. If developments like this can not be predicted, short term solutions are needed, which may provoke conflicts with existing environmental laws.

In order to manage this area sustainably, new concepts will have to be developed allowing to maintain the economic integrity but also reducing impacts on the environment.

  

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