The aim of the European Water Framework Directive (EC WFD) for surface waters is to ensure (prohibition of deterioration) and develop good ecological and chemical status. Three implementation cycles are planned to achieve this goal:

• by 2015,
• by 2021 and
• by 2027

Each cycle includes an inventory, a management plan with a program of measures developed from this and an implementation phase.

The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment has recorded and evaluated the water bodies relevant to the WFD throughout the state. On this basis, management objectives were developed for individual sub-areas as well as basic measures to achieve the objectives. The results were summarized in Lower Saxony's contribution to the Weser River Basin Management Plan with a programme of measures and published in 2009.

Further information can be found under this link.

The urban area of Wolfsburg belongs to the Weser river basin district, Aller sub-basin, with the following two management areas and their water bodies:

• "Aller / Quelle" (Aller, Allerkanal, Kronriede, Kleine Aller, Mühlenriede, Hasselbach, Steekgraben / Hehlinger Bach, Wipperaller, Vorderer Drömlingsgraben) and

• "Oker" (Schunter, Heiligendorfer Bach, Neindorfer Bach)

All of the above-mentioned Wolfsburg watercourses have been classified as "heavily modified", resulting in the target of "good ecological potential". Numerous measures have already been implemented to improve the watercourses (e.g. renaturation of the Aller between Kästorf and Warmenau) and further measures are being planned. However, the majority of the measures can only be implemented once the corresponding areas are available. The timetable for implementing the measures depends on this.

Contact

Laura Rabe
Room B 430
Phone: 05361 28-5174
E-mail: laura.rabe@stadt.wolfsburg.de