Environment Minister jumps into the island lake: Focus on water protection!

Environment Minister jumps into the island lake: Focus on water protection!

Today, July 13, 2025, a very special day is celebrated in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: the “European River Bathing Day”. Since 2005, this day has been dedicated to water protection and is intended to help keep rivers, lakes and coastal waters in good condition. Yesterday, Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) together with Güstrow's Mayor Sascha Zimmermann (FDP) bravely jumped into the island lake to draw attention to the importance of water protection and to point out the successes in the region.

The background to this campaign is remarkable: currently only 4% of the rivers and 21% of the lakes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania achieve good ecological status, which shows those responsible a clear need for action. In this context, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a central instrument that not only looks at water quality, but also the presence of plants, fish and other organisms in the waters. The Inselsee and the Güstrower Nebel are considered positive examples of successful water protection, thanks to the renaturation, which has almost completely restored the ability for aquatic life to migrate.

Challenges and progress

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can look back on an impressive list of bodies of water: over 40,000 kilometers of flowing water, including more than 8,500 kilometers that are subject to reporting to the EU, as well as over 2,200 lakes larger than one hectare. In order to achieve the required condition, around 80 million euros from EU and state funds have already been invested in improving the waters. The landscape projects, which are to be completed by 2027, even include measures to improve the structure of a further 4,000 kilometers of watercourses.

But the challenges should not be underestimated. According to a report from the Water Framework Directive, the status of water bodies is regularly monitored and assessed based on numerous pressures. The associated management plans and programs of measures are updated every six years and are intended to ensure sustainable improvement. Federal Environment Agency points to the essence of the WFD as an important political instrument in water protection in Germany and Europe. Each management period has its own focus areas and runs until 2027, as do the measures that will now be implemented over the next few years.

A call to action

European River Bathing Day is therefore not only an occasion for celebration, but also a call for everyone to think about the state of our waters. It becomes clear that it is not just politics that is needed, but also that every individual can actively work to protect their environment. Be it by avoiding pollution, participating in local projects or becoming aware of the importance of intact nature - every little step counts.

Those interested can also find information on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the clear materials available on the website wrrl-mv.de be offered. There you can also learn more about topics such as moor protection and the challenges of dealing with water stress and drought, which are becoming increasingly important in northeastern Germany.

With this in mind: Let's get to it and ensure that our waters continue to shine in beautiful condition for future generations!