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Water conference in Osterburg: Strategies developed to combat water stress!
On September 3, 2025, the water conference of the Stendal and Salzwedel districts took place in Osterburg to discuss strategies for efficient water management and adaptation to climate change.
Water conference in Osterburg: Strategies developed to combat water stress!
The challenges in the water balance are increasing, and the recent water conference in Osterburg made this more than clear. This event, which was launched as a successor to the Stendal district flood conference and low water conference, attracted over 90 participants from various areas. Representatives from politics, science and agriculture and water management dealt intensively with the topic of water management. How landkreis-stendal.de reports, District Administrator Patrick Puhlmann emphasized the importance of funding and financial resources in order to be able to respond appropriately to pressing problems.
A central topic of the conference was the use of water as a resource. Kirstin Neumann from the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences summed up the situation in East Germany: Rainfall here is lower than the national average, which leads to crop failures and drying waters. This problem is further exacerbated by climate change, because not only is precipitation changing, but temperatures are also rising. According to that Federal Environment Agency A functioning landscape water balance is essential for the health of ecosystems and water availability.
Adaptation strategies in agriculture
With regard to agriculture, Christian Warnke presented some adaptation strategies in order to better meet future challenges. He reduced his cultivation area to a maximum of 15 hectares and is planning sustainable structures, including hedges and agroforestry systems. This is just one example of the ongoing efforts to make agriculture climate-adapted, as is already the case the NABU stated.
Another much discussed point was the withdrawal of water from surface water bodies. Stefan Scholz informed about a general decree that stipulates that the extraction of surface water is restricted. The use of efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, is all the more important in order to optimize water consumption.
Water retention in focus
The conference also offered participants the opportunity to discuss new innovative approaches to improving water retention in the region. Stefan Feder presented regional initiatives, including the planned renovation of a dam in the Stendal district by autumn 2025. These projects are intended to contribute to water retention and support the local flora and fauna.
The next water conference for the two districts is already scheduled for September 23, 2026. The focus should be on water conditions and the possible amendment of the water law in Saxony-Anhalt. It remains to be seen what measures will be taken to effectively address the water balance challenges and secure a sustainable future for the region.