Photo: Cesar von Meissen
Initial measures have been decided
After BaldeneyseeRuhr reported on the algae plague in the Baldeneysee and spoke to those affected on site, those responsible have now taken action. Initial measures were decided to free Lake Baldeney in the short and long term. On 28.07.2016, representatives of those involved met for an initial working meeting for the action plan Baldeneysee. Baldeneysee.Ruhr explains what the two-stage approach will look like.
Joint deployment and area plan
Ruhrverband, Grün und Gruga, IG Baldeney, Essener Sportbund e.V. (ESPO), the city of Essen's sports and swimming pool operators, Essener Arbeit-Beschäftigungsgesellschaft mbH (EABG) and Deutsche Lebens- Rettungs-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLRG) want to draw up a joint deployment and area plan within the next week.
Short-term measures
In the short term, the Ruhrverband's mowing boat will mow the algae carpet at a significantly higher frequency. According to a representative of the city of Essen, the sports and pool companies, Weisse Flotte and the sports clubs want to provide personnel support for this. The EABG wants to help with the removal of the algae cuttings. The DLRG water rescue routes and the regatta course are to be cleared of excessive aquatic vegetation as a matter of priority.
Long-term measures
In the long term, there will be action days with volunteers. As part of a scientific research project, the aim is to determine which measures will prove to be permanently effective in combating the growth of aquatic plants. Dredging Lake Baldeney or other physical measures such as irradiating the algae with ultraviolet light are conceivable. The Ruhrverband had already released rudd fish in 2009 to combat aquatic weeds. The hope that these would reproduce and provide effective biological control was apparently not fulfilled. This was mainly because the initial Elodea plant was joined by other aquatic plants such as pondweed and bulrushes.
Financial support
The Ruhrverband now wants to draw up a project outline for financial support for the planned projects and, together with the city of Essen, apply for support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
