Blue algae record on the Altmühlsee: bathing ban at risk tourism!
Blue algae record on the Altmühlsee: bathing ban at risk tourism!
Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Deutschland - The bathing season around the Altmühlsee is under an unfavorable star. The SPD member of the state parliament Harry Scheuenstuhl expresses his concern about the alarming situation in the popular leisure waters. In 2024 there was massive blue algae deposits, which, according to the Leading the beaches. Since then, the warnings and bathing bans from the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen health office have been a constant companion for the bad pleasure. This situation could lead to the Altmühlsee as an EU bathing water water if the high blue-green algae concentrations are.
Another worrying message: In 2024, a record concentration of 260 micrograms of blue -green algae per liter was measured. These are values that exceed the long -term average by many times over and trigger bathroom warnings from 15 micrograms and bathing bans from 75 micrograms. This reports BR . For the first time this summer, a bathing ban was also for the Surfzentrum Schlungenhof, a fact that both the locals and the guests unsettle.
causes and effects
The problem is not new, but has built up for years. The main causes are the nutrient entries from agriculture, which are reinforced by heavy rain. Phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilized soil and sewage sludge reach the Altmühlsee, which favors the growth of the cyanobacteria. Experts estimate that around 40 tons of phosphorus get into the lake annually, a third of them come from sewage treatment plants. These findings are essential to develop effective measures to improve water quality.
The Bavarian Farmers' Association reports on progress through stricter fertilizer regulations. Farmers are encouraged to leave unfermented stripes on waters, and there is increasing participation in contract nature protection programs for the care of meadows without fertilization. But is that enough to defuse the situation? A holistic approach is required to break the downward spiral, Scheuenstuhl demands. Measures such as dredging and the renovation of sewage treatment plants already show progress, but there is still a lot to do.
climate change as another factor
In addition to the human influences, climate change tightens the problem. The water temperatures in Altmühlsee have increased by four degrees in the past 40 years, which favors the growth of blue -green algae. According to an analysis by biologists from the Technical University of Munich, the increase in blue algae in swimming lakes has increased significantly worldwide. Climate change changes the prerequisites in the waters and contributes to the criticism of the situation, such as Tagesschau reports.
The negative effects on tourism and local economy are noticeable. Especially in the summer of 2024 there was a decline in overnight stays in the Franconian Seenland by about 1 % compared to the previous year. Gastronomy, retail and leisure providers suffer from the low number of visitors. Even the fishing association notices decreasing sales figures for fishing cards, which is alarming for the region.
To improve the situation, Schuenstuhl demands close cooperation with agriculture to ensure clean water and to avert further bathing bans. The hope for soon -to -be solutions remains, not only for nature lovers, but also for all those who appreciate the quality of life and the tourism value of the Altmühlsee.
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| Ort | Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Deutschland |
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