WWF reports very low water in more than 80% of rivers

Austria’s water shortage continued in September, with more than 80 percent of the rivers assessed recording very low water levels, ORF reported, citing the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Several river gauges in Upper Austria were also well below their long-term averages.

According to a new water balance report from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, the Traun at Wels-Lichtenegg had flows 70 percent below the long-term average for September. Significant deficits were also recorded on the Enns at Steyr and the Vöckla at Vöcklabruck.

WWF expert Bettina Urbanek warned on Tuesday that the continued pressure could harm rivers and biodiversity. She said federal and state authorities should better protect natural water stores and restore damaged river landscapes. In summer, dry or nearly dry stretches of rivers in Upper Austria drew attention; the Gusen, for example, carried almost no water at times.

Groundwater levels were also low. The WWF said nearly 90 percent of monitoring stations recorded low or very low levels. The situation was particularly strained in Lower Austria, where the Leitha near Deutsch Haslau carried 93 percent less water than its long-term September average. The Thaya, Kamp and March also recorded large deviations.

The WWF reported substantial shortfalls in western Austria as well. The Bregenzerach in Vorarlberg had 78 percent less than its usual water volume, while the Rhine at Lustenau was almost 70 percent below normal. At the end of September, the water level at the Bregenz gauge on Lake Constance was the lowest ever recorded for that time of year, according to the WWF.

The organisation is calling for a nationwide low-water protection programme. It wants rules to ensure sufficient residual water in hydropower stretches and to restrict water withdrawals during dry periods. It also says side channels and floodplains should be reconnected to rivers, and riverside trees and wetlands protected or restored to help retain water in the landscape.