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Röthen completely dry: Sonneberg district is fighting against water shortages!
In the Sonneberg district, the Röthen river has dried up due to extreme drought. High temperatures and lack of precipitation are the causes.
Röthen completely dry: Sonneberg district is fighting against water shortages!
In the idyllic region of the Sonneberg district, where the Röthen flows peacefully through the landscape as a 25-kilometer-long tributary of the Itz, the reality currently looks completely different. How insuedthueringen.de Reportedly, the river is currently completely dry. Normally the water gushes over a meter high in Sonneberg's old town, but the persistent high temperatures and lack of precipitation have led to this worrying situation.
The meteorologists from the German Weather Service (DWD) blame the extremely dry weather conditions: From February to April 2025, Germany experienced the driest time since 1931. March was particularly dramatic, when only 21% of the usual precipitation fell. This not only affected the Röthen, but also many other water sources in the region and beyond. In May 2025, only 48 l/m² of rain remained, which corresponds to 68% of the usual amount of the reference period 1961-1990, according to this Umweltbundesamt.de.
Consequences for ecosystems and agriculture
The effects of this drought are far-reaching and must be urgently addressed. The Deutschlandfunk warns of the ecological chaos brewing due to falling water levels. Agriculture in particular is suffering from the conditions, with many farmers forced to resort to artificial irrigation to save their fields. Young plants and shallow-rooted crops are particularly susceptible to this lack of water.
The dry periods not only have an impact on crop yields, but also on local biodiversity. Plants, animals and, last but not least, insects, which depend on moist habitats, fight for survival. The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) is therefore calling for measures to restore damaged habitats and strengthen biological diversity. Residents are also called upon to take action and implement water-saving measures to ensure local water availability.
A challenge for everyone
The water balance system in Germany is facing enormous challenges. Climate change has resulted in summer bringing less precipitation while winter rainfall has increased. This has a negative impact on the groundwater storage. The drought monitor shows that the topsoil has dried out significantly in many regions of Germany. And while the amount of water is still sufficient in parts of northern Lower Saxony and the Alps, the north and northeast of Germany see things even more dramatically.
The federal government and other institutions have already taken initial measures to overcome these challenges. The German Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change and the National Water Strategy aim to improve the use of water resources and respond to changing climatic conditions. In particular, improving water use efficiency and promoting water retention in the landscape are key to this.
So the situation is not just unpleasant for those affected, but a real challenge that affects everyone, from farmers to residents. It remains to be hoped that rain will soon bring about an upturn and the Röthen can shine in its old splendor so that life on the banks returns to normal.