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OPTAIN : Wimbe River Basin

Summary
The Wimbe basin is about 112 km2 in size and is classified as a continental bioregion. The basin consists of the water bodies LE8-10. The municipalities within the basin are Daverdisse, Wellin, Beauraing, Gedinne and Rochefort. The basin’s land use is 2% urban, 21% arable, 11% pasture and 66% forest. The region where the stream flows is representative of the Famenne schisteuse and the landscape is open. The region is vulnerable to both floods and low flows. The area is also vulnerable to nitrate concentration in water that is exceeding or is likely to exceed 50 mg/l, may have undergone or likely to undergo eutrophication.
The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.
Last update
2024

OPTAIN : Schwarzer Schöps River Basin

Last update
2024
Summary
The Schwarzer Schöps case study is located in the East of Germany. The catchment area is about 136 km2, most of which is used as cropland (54%) and grassland (20%). The area is facing an increase in severe floods, soil erosion, and droughts, with negative implications for crop yield stability. In addition, the downstream reservoir Quitzdorf suffers more often from low water tables and high phosphorus pollution which is causing blue-green algae bloom and threatening its multiple services, in particular its important role for nature protection, recreation, and maintaining downstream environmental flows.
The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.
Latitude
51.226066
Longitude
14.792066
Project
Optain
National Id
DE_07
Contact
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

NUTS Code
Stockholm
Design Authority
Authority type Authority name Role Comments
Site name
Schawrzer Schöps
Light or indepth?
Light
Transboundary
0

Design land use change
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0
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Public consultation
0
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Policy target
Target purpose
Runoff control
Peak-flow reduction
Pollutants Removal
Erosion Control
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Policy description
The river basin has faced increasing numbers of climatic events such as floods and droughts as well as increased soil erosion. This has impacted the quantity and quality of the Quitzdorf reservoir, located at basin outlet. The reservoir is a key water resource for the region and notably Berlin. It is used as a service water supply, for downstream flood protection, to increase downstream flow, as well as for recreation and nature protection. Pollution of the reservoir has resulted in strong eutrophication, blue-green algae blooms, and the poor ecological status of the water body.
The project will be implemented with a variety of stakeholders including: Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, the State Reservoir Administration of Saxony, the Saxon Farmers’ Association, as well as local farmers and stakeholders implicated in landscape management and conservation.
Part of wider plan
0
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The in-depth description of the case study
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0