Hamburg urges citizens to report dry waterways amid ongoing drought

Hamburg is once again asking its citizens to report dry bodies of water as the region grapples with persistent drought. The environmental authority has reactivated the online portal "Trockener Bach" (Dry Stream), which allows residents to anonymously report dry streams, river sections, or critically low water levels.

The initiative comes after a February with relatively high rainfall, but April saw approximately 60 percent less precipitation than usual, according to the German Weather Service. The ongoing dryness is raising concerns about the habitat of numerous plants and animals.

The "Trockener Bach" portal was first launched in 2023 and received 77 reports last year. The data collected from these citizen reports helps authorities evaluate potential measures to conserve water in the affected areas.

By engaging the public in monitoring water levels, Hamburg aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the drought's impact and to implement targeted conservation efforts to protect the local ecosystem.