Drought leaves North Jutland streams running dry

Streams and waterways in North Jutland are suffering from severe water shortages after the region received little rain, DR reports.

Some streams have dried out completely, while water levels in others are approaching those seen during the extreme drought of 2018, according to Emil Fuglsang, a project manager and civil engineer at the Limfjord Council Secretariat.

Morten Fly, who monitors streams and waterways for Aalborg Municipality, usually gets water into his waders while carrying out inspections. But water levels are now so low in several places that he can walk through them and come out dry.

At Lindenborg Stream, Fly would previously never have entered the water. Now he can walk through it in waders without getting wet.

Water levels have fallen so far that the streambed has risen in places, preventing boats from being used for maintenance work.

“It is probably something we will have to get used to with the climate change that is coming. We must be prepared for there to be a great deal of water or very little water,” Fly said.

Animals need rain

No rain is forecast in the coming days, but Fuglsang said he was hoping for at least a few showers.

“We are waiting eagerly for some rain. We need some rain soon,” he said.

Low water levels have serious consequences for animals living in streams and waterways, he said.

“We have animals in our waterways that are adapted to clean and cold water. So when the water disappears, they cannot live there,” Fuglsang said.

Østerå Stream in Aalborg is among the waterways affected by the drought.

Rain would provide short-term relief, but in the longer term more wetlands are needed, Fuglsang said. Water could then be stored in the landscape during winter and spring, when there is typically plenty of it, and released into streams and lakes during the summer.