In the past few days, very heavy rainfall in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has led to an above-average rise in water levels in the waters of the Mecklenburg Lake District. In many cases, the water levels have reached or exceeded the guideline values of the high water marks.
In order to reduce localised flooding and prevent further large-scale flooding, the Eberswalde Waterways and Shipping Authority is endeavouring to drain the water masses down the Havel with as little damage as possible.
In this context, some locks on the Upper Havel Waterway had to be closed to traffic. This affects the Bredereiche, Zaren, Schorfheide, Zehdenick, Bischofswerder and Liebenwalde locks. This means that the Upper Havel Waterway will be closed to all shipping between kilometres 4.53 and 47.80 for the time being.
The reasons are:
- Shared use of the sluices for water drainage
- Flooding of the river banks between the lock locations
- Danger to shipping due to floating debris and sometimes considerable cross-currents from neighbouring weirs
The duration of the closures will depend on how quickly the water in the Havel drains away and, of course, on how the weather develops. WSA Eberswalde is endeavouring to resume lock operations as soon as possible, but a closure period of around 14 days is to be expected.
Water tourists are recommended to register on the homepage of the WSA Eberswalde or in the Electronic Waterway Information Service (ELWIS) in the section of the shipping police notices or instructions about possible releases of the locks.
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
