The water level of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland is currently 115.23 meters above the Adriatic Sea – and thus lower than it has been at this time of year since 1965. Now the question arises as to whether the lake can compensate for this low level again.
In the previous year, the water level in the lake had dropped significantly in the middle of the year, even touching the long-term low for a short time. After that things went up again a bit, but the natural jewel remained far away from the mean value. As a result, the lake started this year with a deficit. There is now a new historical low, although the previous value was “only” one centimeter lower.Water level depends on the weatherAccording to Christian Sailer, head of the water management department, the reason for this is the lack of precipitation. Since almost 80 percent of the lake is fed by precipitation, the lack of it has direct consequences. How the water level will continue depends on the weather. Heavy rains could be a boon for the lake. If it stays dry, there could be a risk of even lower water levels. According to Sailer, this could mean that there is no longer any connection between the water and the reed belt. The result would be that greenhouse gases would be released – including foul-smelling by-products. Furthermore, sediments could be uncovered, siltation is possible. What that means became clear recently when the muddy bottom of the Bay of Rust came to light as a result of a storm. The problems do not only affect the lake, but also rivers, ponds and pools. Countermeasures initiated The country has already initiated countermeasures with regard to the lake. On the one hand, reed management is used. On the other hand, mud is to be collected from the steppe lake from October. In addition, water is to be supplied from the Hungarian Moson-Donau. However, Hungary has not yet started construction of the supply line to the border. “We’re waiting for the starting signal,” says Sailer. 30 million cubic meters of water could then flow into the natural jewel. This would raise the water level by about twelve centimetres.
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