Abtenau’s Eglsee shrinks as owners clash over its future

The Eglsee, a moor lake in Abtenau, has dwindled to a narrow strip of water as reeds spread across it and the water level falls to just a few centimetres. The local tourism board wants to make the lake more attractive again, but faces resistance from some of its five landowners, ORF reports.

The lake was once a popular destination and, four years ago, was among the finalists in ORF’s “9 Places, 9 Treasures” programme. It has no natural inflow, and groundwater levels are now very low following a dry summer. Visitors on the walking path can barely see the remaining water through the reeds.

The tourism board wants to cut back reeds in some places. Markus Gutjahr of the Abtenau tourism board said visitors sometimes return from walks saying they did not see the lake. Salzburg state says reed cutting could be possible in designated areas and, under certain conditions, might qualify for support. Its landscape management plan identifies areas where cutting would be acceptable or beneficial for nature, including because young reeds support dragonflies.

The five landowners have differing views. Some want to leave the lake in its original state under strict nature-protection rules, while a local construction entrepreneur hopes for more tourism development. No measures can be taken without agreement among the owners.

The mayor expects increasingly frequent dry periods to erode the lake’s appeal to visitors and called a return to its former state “wishful thinking”. Gutjahr said the tourism board would continue discussions with the landowners, while Salzburg’s nature conservation department said it remained open to talks.