Annual Report 2018/2019

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Annual Report 2018/2019

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Imprint

Publisher: German Federal Institute of Hydrology (Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde – BfG) Am Mainzer Tor 1

Postfach 20 02 53 56002 Koblenz

Germany

Phone +49 261 1306-0 Fax: +49 261 1306 5302 E mail: posteingang@bafg.de Internet: http://www.bafg.de Editors: Yvonne Strunck, BfG

Dr. Martin Labadz, BfG Dr. Sebastian Kofalk, BfG

Translations: GOLDIN, DALTON & WITTGREBE GbR Dagmar Kronsbein, ICWRGC

Picture credits: Cover: winyuu/iStock/Getty Images P. 8: ollo/iStock/Getty Images P. 14: ESA/ATG medialab

P. 18: Mima Foto/EyeEm/Getty Images P. 24: Westend61/Getty Images

P. 30: Michael Godek/Moment/Getty Images P. 36: Walter Niederbauer/500Px Plus/Getty Images P. 40: Bartosz Hadyniak/E+/Getty Images

Design: unicom Werbeagentur GmbH Print: Druckereiverbund des BMVI

ISSN 0170 – 5156

DOI: 10.5675/BfG-Jahresbericht_2018/2019_EN

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Message from our Director General

Dear reader,

Today, I am excited to present you our 2018/2019 Annual Report. This time, we selected topics from a wide range of activities across our departments.

2018 was particularly challenging for navigation and shipping. Low-flow in our rivers for several months was the consequence of one of the lowest-precipitation years since the beginning of weather recording. Such extreme events traditionally require the well-founded analyses and water level forecasts of the German Federal Institute of Hydrology. With weekly reports published on the Internet, we informed the public about the impact and further development of the situation. Specifically for users of the federal waterways, our new methods for predicting water levels meant greater certainty of action. At the beginning of December 2019, our new 10day forecasts for the Rhine were set up as a regular service.

Plastic in the environment is an increasing challenge for all of us. Researchers are striving for answers to questions regarding quantities, transport and risks of microplastics in our waters. However, there is still a lack of generally accepted methods and procedures for sampling and analysis. This is where we can make a difference. Our findings are specifically relevant for the Ministry for the Envi- ronment when it comes to management decisions to protect our waters.

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As a public agency, we share our knowledge and expertise with a wide range of researchers to help preserve and improve biodiversity in and around our inland and coastal waters. The federal ‘Blue Belt Germany’ programme, the restoration of the ecological passability of federal waterways, the comprehensive support of the waterway and shipping administration in the maintenance of waterways or the investigations into the newly introduced species and possibilities of their containment are just a few examples.

In order to address global hydrological issues, we are represented in many national and international commissions and collaborate with others in various networks. The Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) is one of our ‘global players’.

This is where users benefit from the data that have been consistently collected over many years: Only with long-term global data will we be able to detect climate change and make better use of the world’s water resources. Therefore, we are pleased to be closely linked to the International Centre for Water Resourc- es and Global Change (ICWRGC). Through various projects, this centre has helped to achieve the sustainability goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.

Climate change and adaptation, water quality and sediment dynamics as well as the complex of topics ‘water-energy-food’ were among the focal points of work over the past two years.

On a national level, the BfG is part of the expert network of various authorities of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. The first phase of the network was completed at the end of 2019 and consisted of five topics.

We are pleased about the trust our partners have placed in us when we now also take on the role of a hub for the expert network in the second phase.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the employees of the BfG for their commitment. I would also like to thank my colleagues at the federal ministries and the waterway and shipping administration as well as all our other partners for their collaboration.

I invite you to take a look at our work over the past two years while browsing through the many interesting reports and follow the links on our homepage.

I wish you a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Dr. Birgit Esser

Director General of the Federal Institute of Hydrology Koblenz, May 2020

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The departments of the BfG

Quantitative Hydrology

Petra Herzog

has been head of the Quantitative Hydrology department since 2017.

We study water levels and streamflows, the geometry and morphological condition of waterways. These studies and measurements go far beyond the narrower scope of the waterway itself. They also cover the floodplains, the groundwater in its interactions with the river, the developments in the catchment area and the effects of global climate change. The development of measuring instruments and methods as well as quality assurance of the acquired data are an essential part of this work. Combined with specific simulating, predicting, and forecasting models, these measurements provide the basis for reliable assessments of the effects of hydraulic-engineering projects, water management practices and trends in streamflow generation in the catchments.

Qualitative Hydrology

Prof. Dr. Thomas Ternes

took over as head of the Qualitative Hydrology department at the end of 2017.

We study the occurrence, transformation, transport and eco-toxicological effect of contaminants in rivers and coastal waters. In expert reports and research projects we examine the impacts that chemicals that were introduced into waters have on aquatic ecosystems and how they restrict water uses. Thanks to our expertise in the disciplines of chemistry, eco-toxicology, microbiology and radiology, we have at our disposal extensive knowledge about the quality of water in the navigable inland and coastal waters as well as the suspended solids and sediments contained there. Data from a nation-wide measuring network and special project-related surveys provide the basis for cause-effect scenarios, forecasts and information for the general public. A key element of our work is to mitigate the detrimental effects of waterway maintenance and expansion works on the quality of waters and to assess the consequences of anthropogenic water pollution for the activities of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administra- tion.

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Ecology

Dr. Dorothe Herpertz

has been head of the Ecology department since 2015.

The focus of our work is on the ecosystems in and along the federal inland and coastal waterways. We study their current composition and status and develop concepts for environmentally compatible and sustainable management of waters. In addition to studying the origin and extent of ecological changes, we also assess the climate-induced impacts on the ecology of waters and their usability.

We show ways to mitigate the negative consequences of anthropogenic inter- ventions. We share our knowledge across departments and find answers to complex ecological questions based on a holistic, effect-orientated system approach.

To this end, we advise the Federal Waterway and Shipping Administration on all matters of waterway development, on maintenance of waterways and the restoration of the continuity of waterways. We also develop concepts and solutions with and for the Federal Waterway and Shipping Administration.

Central Services

Steffen Knobloch

has headed the Central Services department since 2008.

We ensure smooth central business processes and are service providers in all matters related to HR and material resources management, including legal advice, IT, information management and property, vehicle and file management.

We are also responsible for ensuring that official procedures are lawful and that budget funds are put to efficient and correct use.

Information technology provides a modern and future-orientated digital infrastructure. Our library – the Federal Government’s central library for hydrology – provides the BfG with the necessary external knowledge.

Together, we ensure that the BfG is well-positioned to carry out its expert tasks under excellent conditions.

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International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC)

Harald Köthe

has been head of the International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC) since 2018.

Since 1975, we have been an inter-ministerially managed German secretariat for the water programmes of the United Nations and are located at the BfG. In July 2014, we received recognition as the first German UNESCO category 2 Water Centre in Germany. Working together with the inter-ministerial Water For- eign Policy group, we coordinate Germany’s expert contributions to the water programmes of the United Nations, especially for UNESCO, WMO, UNEP, FAO, under the umbrella of UN-Water. We represent the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany in international scientific collaborations on global change and hydrology, e.g. of the Rhine and Danube, and in other regional and global networks. We operate and support global water data centres and work closely with the BfG. We use a common IT infrastructure and a common data management system and collaborate in research projects at national and international level. In doing so, we are helping to promote the availability of clean fresh water for people and the environment.

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Identifying influences. Measuring parameters.

Describing impacts. www.bafg.de

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Low-Flow – an extreme event and its consequences

Since 2015, low and sometimes even extremely low water levels and flows over longer periods of time have already been a frequent occurrence in federal waterways. In 2018, in particular, this led to major impacts on navigation, with high water temperatures affecting water quality and hence riverine life. In order to reduce the negative consequences, especially for navigation, we are constantly developing new forecasting products that we provide to the transport sector.

The year 2018 was marked by persistent drought which caused which caused substantial declines in riverine water levels over the course of the year. After a humid winter, with large amounts of snow in the Alps, average

monthly rainfall was last reached in March 2018. From April onwards, rainfall in German accounted for only half the long-term mean. As a result, riverine water levels sank first in the North and East of Germany, and

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later on in the South and West. In the Middle and Upper Rhine, snow and glacier melt water delayed a decrease of the water levels. Therefore, low stages impeding navigation were not reached until mid-November. In many places, water levels at gauging stations reached historically low levels. How- ever, these record values have only limited validity as the river bed can change considerably over the course of decades. The more representative value with regard to low water is therefore the water quantity in relation to the respective gauge (right-hand scale in Fig. 1). Although extremely low run-off values were measured in 2018, these were not in fact record levels.

The water level and run-off records for the ice-free months of May to Novem- ber 2018 are shown here.

In terms of the major federal waterways, the rivers Weser and Elbe were particularly affected: The water level of the Weser fell below the navigation-relevant low level in 80% of all days between June and December 2018, and 90% in the case of the Elbe.

Notably, the low water level of the Rhine, causing lower cargo tonnages

on inland vessels, and hence supply bottlenecks, had economic impacts.

Low-flow also impacted on industry:

Due to the high water temperatures in rivers, it was necessary to limit the volume of heated water discharged into rivers, for instance, from the cooling water circuits of power plants.

From July to December 2018, the

‘Measuring Programme for Hydro- logical Extreme Events on the Elbe’

of the Elbe River Basin Community was applied. The water management institutions of the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Lower Saxony increased water quality measurements to a fortnightly sampling frequency. The BfG coordinated the campaign and continuously informed the public about the current results via the UNDINE information platform. We operate this platform continuously, even independent of extreme events.

Despite exceptionally high water temperatures in the Elbe, the oxygen concentration in 2018 remained above fish-critical values. The concentra- tions of calcium, potassium, sodium and chloride as well as electrical

Fig. 1: Comparison of the record water levels at the gauging station (above gauge datum) with record run-off volumes during the ice-free months on selected rivers since the commence- ment of recording, blue: values and data 2018. (Data: WSV, © BfG)

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conductivity reached maximum values at individual measuring stations, which had not been seen there for 20 to 25 years. Slightly elevated concen- trations of nickel and arsenic were detected at several measuring stations.

The summer heatwaves of 2018/2019 also affected the riverine biology, entailing blue algae bloom as well as major heat stress for several species of fish and invertebrates. Since 2017, we have already been observing blue algae blooms in August, September and 2018 even in October, for example, in the impounded Moselle. The predominant species was microcystis.

These organisms, which belong to the cyanobacteria, can ‘cream up’

on the surface of the water body as a result of mass development and form streaks, giving the water body an intensive blue-green colour (Fig. 2). The toxins formed by the algae can lead to symptoms of poisoning in humans and animals after ingestion of large quantities.

Mitigating effects by means of information – the BfG’s fore- casts and scenarios

Real-time monitoring of water levels and their prediction are essential to allow optimum handling of low-flow conditions and to enable anticipatory

action. This information gives the inland navigation and transport sector the opportunity to plan cargo tonnages and transport capacities more precise- ly, to better determine transport routes and schedules and to optimise ware- housing and production processes.

If waterway users are enabled to act more proactively, the negative consequences of low-flow can be mitigated.

This is achieved by the traffic-related forecasts which we develop and pub- lish together with the Federal Water- ways and Shipping Administration (WSV) via the Electronic Waterway Information Service ELWIS. Fig. 3 illustrates the enormous importance of water level forecasting, especially during low-flow periods, using the example of 2018. Daily access to the published forecast for the Kaub Rhine gauge station increased noticeably as the duration and intensity of low-flow increased, rising up to 10,000 accesses per day.

In addition to the forecasts published via ELWIS for the coming days, we were able to provide on a test basis longer-term forecasts and run-off scenarios during the 2018 low-flow while drawing on our research and development activities (in particular, the BfG’s Seamless Prediction and the EU’s IMPREX project, as well as the expert network of the Federal

Fig. 2: Blue algae in the Moselle.

The blue-green colour of the algae is clearly visible on the filter. Typical flake- like structures or streaks on the water surface of the Moselle © BfG

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Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI)) and to expand our consulting services in this respect.

The BfG specifically provided

• probability-based water level forecasts over the coming 10 days (Rhine)

• a categorical 6week outlook of run-off development (Rhine, Elbe, Danube)¹

• scenario analyses of possible run- off developments in the next few months (Rhine)

The uncertainty of a statement generally increases the further the predictions lie in the future. This challenge is met by our longer-term forecasts, where not just one, but a large number of individual forecasts (an ‘ensemble’) are considered in order to make a well-founded estimate of the predictive uncertainty. Even if longer- term forecasts do not provide absolute water levels/run-off data at a fixed date, they do allow a robust estimate

of whether water levels in the period under consideration will tend to be lower or higher than ‘normal’ (i.e. the long-term average) for the relevant time of the year.

During his visit to the BfG on 4 De- cember 2019, Andreas Scheuer, Fed- eral Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, gave the starting signal for the publication of probability- based water level forecasts for the next 10 days on the Rhine in ELWIS.

Fig. 3: Daily access to the water level forecast (black) and the course of the water level at the Kaub Rhine gauge station (blue) in 2018

Research projects at the BfG:

• “Seamless Prediction” project on behalf of the BMVI:

Scale-overlapping water level forecasts and predictions for the federal waterways, January 2015 to December 2019

• EU project “IMproving PRedictions and management of hydrological extremes (IMPREX)”, October 2015 to September 2019,

https://www.imprex.eu

• Research project “Digital Navigation Assistant” (DSA), September 2017 to December 2018

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Exploiting the potential of digitalisation – the Digital Navigation Assistant

Within the scope of the mFUND research initiative of the BMVI, we focused on the topic of improved information for inland navigation.

Together with management consultancy BearingPoint, IT consultancy

BearingPoint Technology and Berlin Technical University, the research project ‘Development of a Digital Navigation Assistant (DSA)’ was successfully completed. The DSA aims at improved digital handling and select provision of mobility data relevant for inland navigation, including the water level forecasts by the BfG. Existing data sources were connected to an Internet platform, digitally processed and output as graphics for end users in a pilot application, the Digital Navigation Assistant (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: Presentation of route, level and lock information in the DSA pilot application

With the mFUND (modernity fund) research initiative, the BMVI has been funding research and development projects relating to digital data-based applications for mobility 4.0 since 2016.

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Further information:

Weekly low-flow reports by the BfG 2015 to 2019 on the Internet (https://www.bafg.de/

DE/07_Nachrichten/nach- richten_node.html) Electronic Waterway Infor- mation Service ELWIS https://www.elwis.de Information platform UNDINE

http://undine.bafg.de/

index_en.html Contact:

Silke Rademacher (rademacher@bafg.de) In 2018, the DSA Pilot, which is

implemented as a cloud solution, was available to numerous end users (skippers, ship owners, industrial compa- nies, authorities) for almost six months as a field test in day-to-day operations.

Feedback was systematically collected and has already been incorporated into further development during the test phase. The DSA has shown what a digital inland navigation platform can offer in the future. In particular, beneficial topics and requirements were identified that need to be taken into account in the further development of the platform.

1 Categorical assessment of run-off development

Based on the data measured during a past reference period, five equally probable run-off categories (low, slightly lower, medium, slightly higher, high) are defined for each week of the year. We then determine the percentage of ensemble members per week who fall into the respective category.

This percentage is interpreted as the probability of occurrence of the respective run-off category.

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Satellite data for large-scale monitoring of inland waterways

For many years, the BfG has been investigating various platforms and methods of remote sensing in order to assess their potential for application in the field of inland water bodies. Therefor it is important to compare user requirements with technical possibilities. In this way, we aim to increasing- ly use the data provided by the European ‘Copernicus’ programme both for our work and for other potential users. We have gained experience in the evaluation of satellite data, for instance, during the analysis of water temperatures and turbidity of federal waterways.

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Copernicus – environmental monitoring from space

The European Union’s earth observation programme Copernicus has been providing data since 2014. What’s re- markable here is that the satellite data is provided free of charge and with long-term continuity. The Sentinel 1 radar satellites and the optical Senti- nel 2 satellites are primarily available for this purpose. The two identical Sentinel 2 satellites are particularly attractive for monitoring inland waterways. With a spatial resolution of 20m, they deliver images of the same area of Germany every 2 – 3 days when skies are clear. However, cloud cover, which varies from region to region, can significantly reduce availability times. In 2018, a total of 139 images were taken of the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Moselle, 34 of which were mostly cloud-free and could be evaluated. The two Sentinel 1 radar satellites do not provide colour information, but have the advantage of being able to ‘see through’ clouds.

They can, for instance, provide flood- ing data for flood management.

However, the Copernicus programme not only provides data, but also de- livers further processed data products within the framework of six so-called core services that include, e.g., monitoring of the atmosphere, climate change, the marine environment and land surfaces. When it comes to inland water bodies and waterways, several services provide relevant products, such as lake water quality, snow and ice cover and, beginning next year, coastal land use and cover.

In September 2017, Copernicus and the use of the programme were the

subject of a strategy paper by the German Federal Government and an associated work programme led by the BMVI. This resulted in the ap- pointment of topic coordinators from various federal authorities to provide technical support for the national implementation of the Copernicus core services – unique in Europe.

In this group of topic coordinators, we provide the technical expert for inland water bodies and waterways who also acts as an intermediary between the European level and national users on matters related to this topic. For example, we advise the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration as well as federal-state authorities on the use of satellite data and Copernicus products and we also conduct workshops. The potential of remote sensing has not yet been fully exploited, so that it is very important to demonstrate its possibilities and exchange information. The validation of remote sensing data on the basis of in situ data is also crucial in order to assess the quality of the data and to provide well-founded statements on areas of application. Two workshops organised by the BfG addressed this goal: (1) ‘Large-scale flood monitoring – possibilities, limits and opportu- nities of remote sensing’ in December 2018 (jointly organised with BBK and BKG) and (2) ‘Copernicus in water management’ in March 2019 (organised by the German Working Group on Water Issues of the Federal States and Federal Government (LAWA) together with the BfG and UBA).

• https://www.bafg.de/DE/05_Wissen/02_Veranst/2018/

2018_12_05.html

• https://www.wasserblick.net/servlet/is/183042/

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The range of applications for water bodies – of Coperni- cus and other remote sensing platforms

The data sets and products available within the Copernicus programme cover a wide range of topics. The parameters range from turbidity, chlorophyll and temperature to land cover, soil moisture and phenology (seasonal development and growth phases of plants) right through to snow cover. However, interesting data products even outside the Copernicus programme are also available that evaluate Sentinel data differently or use other satellites or platforms (such as drones).

Together with the participants of the above-mentioned LAWA work- shop, other areas of application were identified: soil, soil condition, water structure quality, water quality, water balance modelling, structure monitoring, climate change and extreme hydrological events. The validity ranges for these topics now need to be identi-

fied, along with achievable accuracies, available data sources and resolutions, etc. Experience shows that remote sensing data usually unfolds its full informative value in combination with in situ data and/or models as can be seen in the following examples.

Satellite-based turbidity monitoring in rivers

In situ measurements of water turbidity are carried out in order to inves- tigate the distribution and amount of suspended matter in water bodies.

Continuous measurements are possible here, but they only record the conditions at one point in the water body. Figure 5 shows an example of the turbidity values derived from satellite data, which are now provided by satellites for certain points in time over broad areas. The turbidity of a water body can vary considerably. The figure shows, as an example, that the water of the Moselle is much more turbid than the water of the Rhine at the time of recording. Values above 60 FNU (unit of turbidity) are rather rare for the Moselle. But in this case, precipitation in the catchment area washed a lot of fine sediments into the water. The spatial distribution of turbidity across the water body can be shown very well with satellite data, in contrast to in situ measurements.

However, in order to derive quantitative values, this in situ data is needed to calibrate the satellite data. It was possible to perform this calibration for situations with low turbidity (<

60 FNU). Rare situations with high turbidity have not been captured frequently enough by satellites up to now, so that we will not perform calibration for situations of more than 60 FNU until a sufficient number of reference values are available.

Fig. 5: Turbidity conditions derived from Sentinel 2 data (7 June 2016) on the Rhine and Moselle, calibrat- ed using in situ data (turbidity in FNU)

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Water surface temperature from satellite data

Water temperature is an important parameter for biological and chemical processes in aquatic ecosystems.

It is also measured in order to map different processes in the water body, e.g. mixing of different water bodies.

Satellites can also be used for this purpose by regularly recording thermal infrared radiation from the earth’s surface. This can be used to determine the distribution of surface temperatures at the time of recording, e.g. of the Rhine (uppermost micrometres of the water column) (see Fig. 6). The spatial resolution of this satellite data is limited to 60m and 100m, respec- tively. For rivers and tributaries, a narrower resolution of less than approx. 3 pixels (i.e. less than 180m and 300m, resp., in width) is not possible. Up to now, this kind of freely available and comparatively high-resolution ther-

mal data has only been provided by the U.S. Geological Survey with data from the Landsat 7 and 8 satellites. At present, however, potential next-generation satellites are being discussed as part of the Copernicus programme, which could also include a high-resolution thermal sensor.

Outlook

Remote sensing will become more and more important within the BfG and more generally for environmental monitoring by public authorities. The possibilities offered by Copernicus and the use of new, flexible platforms, such as drones, offer many new ways to retrieve or produce high-resolution environmental data. Our goal is to explore these new possibilities and to combine them with existing methods in the best possible way.

Fig. 6: Water surface temperature (Landsat 8) of the Rhine on 26 June, 5 August and 29 August 2018 in the area of the Rhine island Urmitzer Werth approx. 10 km downstream of Koblenz.

On 5 and 29 August, dry areas of the lateral branch of the river can be seen.

(Source: S^chwandt et al. 2019)

https://www.d-copernicus.de https://www.copernicus.eu/en

Contact:

Dr. Björn Baschek (baschek@bafg.de)

Reference:

Schwandt, D.; G. hübner, A. ZavarSky, K. Fricke: Wassertemperatur des Rheins bei Koblenz im Sommer 2018.

Projektbericht. In: Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung 63 (2019) H.1, S. 60-63

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Plastics in federal waterways

The BfG addresses various aspects of plastic pollution of federal water- ways, i.e., the Danube, Elbe, Lahn, Moselle and Rhine, in order to answer fundamental questions regarding this environmental problem. We develop methods and procedures to describe and evaluate the condition of federal waterways and the effects of plastic pollution on the living environment.

The findings serve as a basis for future management decisions concerning the protection and maintenance of federal waterways.

Besides climate change and the loss of biodiversity, global pollution of the environment with plastics is one of the most pressing social and scientific issues of our time. Since plastic production began in the 1950s, plastic parts have accumulated in water and soil.

Plastic particles can now be detected

in almost all areas of the aquatic environment, from the deep sea to the Arc- tic regions. This pollution has reached a level that has become life-threaten- ing, for instance, for marine birds and mammals. Estimates suggest that plastic production is set to increase tenfold worldwide by 2050. At the same

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time, the occurrence of plastic in the environment continues to rise sharply.

UV radiation, physical abrasion and biodegradation lead to fragmentation of the waste down to microplastics (particles < 5mm). Land-based inputs account for a significant proportion of plastic pollution in marine envi- ronments. The transport of this plastic pollution over major rivers into the marine environment has an important role to play here. Up to now, however, the methods for sampling plastics in water, especially for microplastics, have not been standardised and therefore do not yet provide reliable data for determining plastics content.

Research projects and first results

Within the scope of various research projects of the BfG, we develop

Fig. 7: Microplastic in sediments of the Elbe (n per kg: particles per kg). Sam- pling points downstream: 1 Wittenberg to 11 Vogelsand; blank = control sample (egerci 2018)

11 Vogelsand 10 Hollerwettern 9 Lühemündung 8 Hafenstraße 7 Elbstorf 6 Geesthacht 5 Dömitz 4 Wittenberge 3 Havelberg 2 Dessau 1 Wittenberg Blank

20.000 15.000 10.000 5.000 o 500 400 300 200 100 0

sampling site

abundance MP [n/kg]

methods for sampling plastics in water and sediment, sample preparation for extracting plastic particles, for qualitative and quantitative measurement and for measuring the transport of particles downstream into the marine environment. We are also working to understand the effects of microplastics on animals living in rivers.

Our results show that the concentra- tions of microplastics in the sediments of our rivers are significantly higher than in the aqueous phase. Figure 7 shows the example of plastic particle levels in sediments in the Elbe. We found up to 16,000 plastic particles per kilogram of sediment there (Des- sau monitoring station). In the tidally influenced area of the Elbe (Tideelbe), the concentration dropped to below 100 particles per kilogram. These are plastic fibres, pieces of foil, plastic fragments and beads (Fig. 8).

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Fig. 8: Fibres, pieces of foil, plastic fragments and beads isolated from sediments of the Elbe © Scherer, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, BfG

Fig. 9: Filter (12cm diameter) with plastic beads (white), fragments (red, brown) and fibres (transparent) as well as organic residual material of the sample © Kochleus, BfG

Before these results can be obtained, the samples must be prepared in a complex way. Sediments are taken from the river and dried, the plastic is separated from other material, e.g.

by density separation, and filtered.

Figure 9 shows fibres, fragments and beads isolated from a sediment sample.

In order to confirm the identity of the material, we use pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy

(pyrGC/MS) as a chemical analysis method and spectroscopic methods, such as Micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR).

What are the effects of mi- croplastics on the organisms in federal waterways?

Our laboratory investigations show that lower animals can indeed absorb microplastics in their intestinal tract

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and also excrete them undigested.

However, reproduction, survival rate and feeding activity are not significantly affected. That being said, it is not clear what effect the intake of plastic has since overall less food can be ingested.

To our surprise, caddisfly larvae demonstrated unusual behaviour in the presence of microplastics during initial laboratory experiments. They used the light plastic particles to build a quiver (Fig. 10). We found microplastics of different shapes, colour, sizes and polymers (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) in sediments. Apparently, the organisms used the lighter weight of plastic as an advantage over biological building material. It was observed that plastic was preferred by the larvae to grains

Fig. 10: Caddisfly larva with integrated microplastics (blue particles) (PET = polyethylene terephthalate, total size:

1.3cm). The illustration was taken from the master’s thesis on ‘Microplastics as a building material for the case construction by Lepidostoma basale (Trichoptera): Effects on the quiver structure’ by T. alnajjar, who was mentored by the BfG in 2019.

of sand, especially at the beginning of quiver construction. But the big biological disadvantage is that the plastic in the quiver leads to insta- bility. This is particularly serious because the quivers protect against predators and serve as ballast in flowing water. Since the ingredi- ents released from microplastics can also have toxic effects and the sensitive larvae in the quiver are directly exposed to these chemicals, the presence of microplastics in the quivers of caddisfly larvae can have a negative impact on their development. However, further research is necessary in order to better understand the behaviour of the larvae in relation to the presence of microplastics, on the one hand, and the developmental effects of microplastics on the other.

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Future issues

From a global perspective, the major rivers contribute significantly to plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. To what extent this also applies to federal waterways has not yet been clarified.

For this reason, future research will

Research projects at the BfG:

• PRIMUS: Micro- and macroplastics in federal waterways – Description of conditions, transport mechanisms, ecological risks and management options, January 2019 – December 2021

• Plastrat: Strategies for the reduction of urban plastic emissions into limnic systems, September 2017 – August 2020

http://www.plastrat.de/project/

• MicBin: Microplastics in inland waters – investigation and modeling of entries and whereabouts in the Danube area as a basis for action planning, October 2017 – September 2020

https://bmbf-plastik.de/en/joint-project/micbin

• µikro: Research group “Microplastics in inland waters”

https://www.uni-koblenz-landau.de/en/campus-koblenz/fb3/natural- sciences/aquatic-ecology/research/microplastics/projectdescription

focus on the question of how much plastic is deposited and how it is transported in flowing waters. The composition of plastic particles in water bodies is heterogeneous in many respects, for example, with regard to their origin and chemical composition, but also with regard to particle prop-

Microplastic sampling with the research vessel Elbegrund on the River Elbe

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www.plastic-network.org Contact:

Dr. Friederike Stock (stock@bafg.de) Dr. Georg Reifferscheid (reifferscheid@bafg.de)

References:

alnajjar, T. (2019): Mikroplastik als Baumaterial für den Köcherbau von Lepidostoma basale (Trichoptera):

Effekte auf die Köcherstruktur. Mas- terarbeit, Bundesanstalt für Gewäs- serkunde

e^gerci, H. (2018): Vorkommen von Mikroplastik in Sedimentproben der Elbe im Flussverlauf zwischen Wit- tenberg und Dömitz. Bachelorarbeit Goethe Universität Frankfurt.

erties, which essentially determine the transport process. In this case, particle size, shape (e.g. compact, platy, fibres) and density must be highlighted.

Networking and cooperation

The problem of plastic pollution of the aquatic environment has many facets. Joint projects in networks are needed if research and solutions are to succeed. That is one reason why the BfG is participating in research projects funded within the framework of BMBF’s call for proposals entitled ‘Plastics in the Environment – Sources, Sinks, Solutions’. We are also cooperating with the University of Koblenz-Landau in the field of microplastics.

International networking is also taking place through the Internation- al Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC), which is part of the BfG. For this purpose, we have set up the ‘PLA-NET – The plastic network’ website to con- nect international players who are dedicated to the global problem of plastic pollution. This website also lists a number of publications which we issued in recent years on the subject of plastics.

Together with other departmental research institutes of the Federal Government, we are organising specialist conferences to improve scientific assistance for the federal ministries.

Plastic waste accumulates on the beaches of Lanzarote, Canary Islands

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Contributions to maintaining and improving biodiversity

Inland and coastal waters and their adjacent floodplains are among the most diverse, dynamic and complex and yet most threatened habitats on earth. On a global scale, the loss of biodiversity in inland waters is more than twice as high as in marine or terrestrial areas. For this reason, pro- tecting and improving biodiversity in and along federal waterways is an im- portant issue for us. As identified in the UN Biodiversity Report 2019, the intensive anthropogenic use and pollution of water bodies, the spread of in- vasive species, and climate change are the main drivers of biodiversity loss.

The BfG addresses these challenges in numerous research projects and as an advisory authority. We also conduct long-term monitoring programmes designed to record biodiversity (fish, macrozoobenthos, phytoplankton).

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‘Germany’s Blue Belt’ – A Federal Government programme

‘Germany’s Blue Belt’, a Federal Government programme launched in 2017, is an important contribution towards establishing a transregional biotope network and towards pre- serving biological diversity in Germany. The aim of the programme is to restore ecologically functional river landscapes throughout Germa- ny. Renaturalized federal waterways and their floodplains form an important part of a biotope network and help to preserve water and floodplain species and their habitats. The programme is being implemented with the technical support and assistance of the ‘Blue Belt’ expert group which is coordinated by the BfG. We also make our own technical contributions based on our professional expertise.

We design, support and implement the performance reviews for specific renaturation projects and conduct the necessary monitoring for the nation- wide programme goals on waterways.

Monitoring of migratory fish in the Moselle River

As part of our activities to restore the ecological connectivity of federal waterways, we record the diversity of migratory fish. Since 2011, a video-based, contact-free recording system has been developed for the fish ladder on the Moselle in Ko- blenz. The system can be used to automatically record the entire species spectrum of the fish fauna. This methodology, in which migrating fish swim through a video tunnel in the

fish ladder, provides a unique opportunity to record detailed information on individual numbers and species over long periods of time. Thanks to this system, we were able to detect very rare fish and lamprey species (Fig. 11). In July 2013, for instance, we not only succeeded in detecting migrating allis shad in the Moselle for the first time in over 60 years, but we have also since recorded a positive development in the numbers of migrating fish (16 individuals in 2018) of this species. For eight years now, this recording method, which we helped to develop, has formed the basis for evaluating changes in the diversity and frequency of fish

species in the Moselle. Fig. 11: Sea lamprey passing through the video tunnel in the Koblenz fishway

IPBES 2019. Summary for policy- makers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovern- mental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. https://www.ipbes.net/

global-assessment-report- biodiversity-ecosystem-services

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Promoting floral diversity along federal waterways

Floral diversity on federal waterway embankments that serve as bank protection can be enhanced by upstream parallel training walls or the use of technical-biological bank protection measures. Banks protected using

conventional means may be richer in plant species than unprotected banks with upstream parallel training walls, but the latter show a higher diversity of species typical for the water body (Wollny et al. 2019).

In a test section on the River Rhine near Worms, various technical-biological bank protection measures – including willow brush mattresses and plant mats (Fig. 12) – were test- ed. After five years of development, their floral diversity was greater than that of the neighbouring remaining reference sections made up of armour stones (WSA Mannheim, BfG &

BAW, in preparation). The high floral diversity also improved the range of flowers available for insects (Fig. 13).

Maintenance of federal waterways

As a result of the new versions of the Federal Water Act and the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the respon- sibilities of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) have been extended not only to traffic maintenance but also to the active achievement of ecological goals.

These goals are primarily designed

Fig. 12: Examples of technical-biolog- ical bank protection. Left: willow brush mattresses in the first growing season after planting, right: plant mats in the sixth year after installation.

© K. Behrendt, BfG

Fig. 13: Blossoms of the plant species diversity in three bank protection vari- ants. In the flowers diagrams, each bar corresponds to a certain type of flower, the bar length corresponds to the flow- ering time in the year, the bar thickness to the quantity of flowers.

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to improve the diversity of species and structures and thus biodiversity.

More extensive maintenance of banks, control of neophytes, keeping oxbow lake connections open, optimising meadow locations or simply leaving areas to succession² are just a few examples which the WSV can take up in the context of maintenance in order to promote the development of floodplain landscapes and their biodiversity.

In order to recognise this scope for action and to implement this in a professional manner, we support the WSV in an advisory capacity. This is carried out especially through the joint development of maintenance plans that raise awareness of the valuable areas and species along waterways.

The plans are drawn up in close cooperation with the federal state authorities in charge and with local associa- tions. The maintenance plans set the framework that defines ecologically orientated measures on land owned by the WSV and beyond on the basis of traffic maintenance.

Examples of this include the maintenance plans for the rivers Danube (Geisling dam) and Ruhr, the Rhine- Herne Canal and the River Rhine (in the Koblenz area), which were completed in 2018/19.

Promoting biodiversity in the transport sector

Biodiversity surveys were carried out over a study area of 20,000 hectares near Aschaffenburg: on secondary transport areas along the Main, on federal highways and on railways, and are part of the BMVI initiative

“Network of Experts”. Although the biotopes on secondary transport areas were often not optimally developed and often consisted of neophytes, they were on average ecologically more valuable than the adjacent agricultural areas. The banks of the River Main (Fig. 14) with their alluvial remains proved to be particularly valuable. We identified 14 types of biotopes that occur frequently along all three modes of transport and for which biodiversity-promoting measures are being developed across all transport modes.

These measures also concern the management of already naturalised neobiota.

Fig. 14: Broad-leaved ragwort (Senecio sarracenicus), which is endangered in Germany, was found during mapping campaigns in the Aschaffenburg area at the River Main.© Sundermeier, BfG 2 Succession

natural return of the organisms typical for a location

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Neobiota

³

– containment of invasive species

According to the UN Biodiversity Report 2019, in addition to intensive land use, the spread of invasive species is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Enormous irreversible restructuring of bio- coenoses (fish, macrozoobenthos) has also been observed in federal waterways. It is essential that the pathways through which invasive species are spreading be identified in order to manage and prevent the growing introduction of neobiota. In cooperation with the Federal Mari- time and Hydrographic Agency, we took a closer look at the potential of commercial and recreational vessels in inland navigation as a path for the spread of alien species. Two

aspects have been and will continue to be examined in more detail here:

(1) the spread of neobiota via ship fouling and (2) via ballast water.

Ship fouling – hull fouling Between 2017 and 2018, commercial and recreational vessels were investigated on various federal waterways and coastal waters with a view to fouling as well as their specific maintenance and use regime.

It was found that hulls are generally suitable as a colonisation area for animals (macrozoobenthos) and plants (algae), with the stern and niches being the preferred colonisation areas (Fig. 15). In addition, a longer mooring period correlates with stronger fouling. The average share of neozoa on ship hulls is between 30% and 40%.

3 Neobiota (neophytes, neozoa) species that have settled in an area

where they were previously not native (newly settled plants or animals)

Fig. 15: Common alien species living on self-propelled cargo vessels and recreational vessels: the quagga mus- sel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), here on the hull of a recreational vessel resting on a trailer, and the amphipod (Chelicorophium robustum).

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Ballast water

Ballast water is mentioned in numerous publications as a path for the introduction and spread of alien species. Although these studies are limited to the marine area and despite the lack of studies, it can be assumed that ballast water is also responsible for the spread of alien species in inland waterways. Using a questionnaire, we quantified the use of ballast water in inland navigation and thus determined its potential importance for the introduction and spread of neobiota. A large proportion

www.blaues-band.bund.de https://ufersicherung-baw-bfg.

baw.de/en

www.bafg.de/durchgaengigkeit https://www.bmvi-experten netzwerk.de/EN

Contact:

Dr. Sebastian Flues (flues@bafg.de) References:

wollny, J. T.; otte, A. & har-

volk-S^chöning, S. (2019): Dominance of competitors in riparian plant species composition along constructed banks of the German rivers Main and Danube. – Ecological Engineering 127: 324-337

WSA Mannheim, BfG & BAW (in Vorbe- reitung): Einrichtung einer Versuch- sstrecke mit technisch-biologischen Ufersicherungen, Rhein km 440,6 bis km 441,6, rechtes Ufer. Ab- schlussbericht der Monitoringphase 2012 bis 2017

Fig. 16: Share of vessels operating on rivers (Main, Moselle, Neckar, Weser) and canals (Midland Canal, RhineHerne Canal, Wesel-Datteln Canal) with and without ballast water (n = number of skippers surveyed)

of the 290 skippers surveyed (65%) stated that they used ballast water.

According to this survey, ballast water plays the most important role in the case of bulk shipping and tankers as well as in canals (Fig. 16).

All in all, the results show that neobiota are spread by shipping.

This coincides with studies on the dispersion history of individual species. The results must now be used to derive and coordinate measures to minimise the spread of alien species through shipping.

rivers (n=144) canals (n=146) 100 %

80 %

60 %

40 %

20 %

0 %

no balast water balast water

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The BfG in the BMVI Network of Experts

In order to prepare Germany’s transport system in the future for the com- plex challenges that lie ahead, such as climate change, environment, relia- bility, digitalisation and renewable energies, the Federal Ministry of Trans- port and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has bundled the competencies of seven higher authorities in the ‘Knowledge – Ability – Action’ Network of Experts (Fig. 17). Since 2016, they have been working together on prac- tice-relevant solutions in five fields of activity in order to create a lasting, permanently resilient transport infrastructure. The BfG is involved in all of the Network of Experts’ fields of activities. We are pleased to present some of our work from the first phase (2016-2019) here.

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Field of activity 1: Adapting transport and infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather events

For the first time ever, comparable climate impact analyses were carried out across all modes of transport in order to identify the potential negative consequences of events such as floods, low water, storms and landslides for the federal transport infrastructure. In close cooperation with the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Meteorological Service) and the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute, we coordinated one of the nine main topics, i.e.

“navigability and water quality”.

As part of this working group, we examined waterway-specific aspects, such as changes in sediment transport and water quality, as well as the

Fig. 17: BMVI Network of Experts – Participating authorities

changing discharge of the federal waterways. One important issue also for the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration was: Were there any changes in the projections of parameters relevant to shipping after the new findings of the Intergov- ernmental Panel on Climate Change (Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC 2014) were applied as compared to the projections with input values from the Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC 2007)?

In regard to low flows at the Rhine, we discovered that our projections based on the Fourth Assessment Re- port (Fig. 18a, BMVI 2015) showed a similar characteristic when compared to projections based on the new IPCC report. However, there is a somewhat stronger decrease during the second half of the century (Fig. 18b).

Fig. 18a, b: Comparison of the dis- charge projections (mean monthly low flow discharges) for the Lower Rhine near Rees for the period 2071 to 2100.

a) Projections from the 2013 KLIWAS research programme (BMVI 2015 based on IPCC 2007), b) Projections from the 2019 BMVI Network of Experts (BMVI-Expertennetzwerk 2020 based on IPCC 2014). The shaded areas show the regions, from dark to light, where 20%, 50% and 90% of the projections are located. The median is shown by the straight line.

m³/s

a) b)

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Field of activity 2: Design- ing environmentally friendly transport and infrastructure

The BfG is responsible for coordinat- ing field of activity 2 in the Network of Experts. We are working here on projects to promote biodiversity and structural habitat diversity as well as the development of maintenance strategies to control and minimise the impact of invasive species (neobiota).

These topics are described in details on p. 27 et seqq.

The reduction of material pollution caused by transport as well as construction and infrastructure-related emissions into water, soil and air, along with investigations into noise emissions caused by transport are further aspects in this field of activity.

Selecting durable and environmentally friendly construction materials/

products, for instance, was one focus in this field. The impact of weather – comparable for all modes of transport – can lead to diminished durability of construction materials and to the release of (harmful) substances. In

the case of anti-corrosion coatings for bridge structures, for instance, premature peeling of the polyurethane top coating has been observed in some cases just a few years after completion (Fig. 19). This protec- tive coating is usually applied on site after completion of the structure in addition to the intermediate coating already applied at the factory.

The latter is subject to weathering after application. Our investigations conducted with the Federal Water- ways Engineering and Research Institute showed adhesion problems between the top and intermediate coatings. This resulted in ‘ chalking’

due to decomposition of the colour pigments as well as chemical changes in the organic components of the surface of the intermediate coating. This makes it difficult to achieve a sufficient chemical bond between the top and intermediate coatings, which then explains the phenomenon of premature peeling.

We were also able to demonstrate that exposure of the epoxy surface to UV radiation can lead to the release of ecotoxicologically relevant substances (Fig. 19).

Fig. 19: A: Damage (peeling of the polyurethane top coating) on a bridge structure. B: Steel plate with an intermediate epoxy coating with no exposure to UV radiation and C: after 65 hours of exposure to UV-A radiation (corresponds to approx. 3 months of real weathering). D: Formation of pow- der on the surface (chalk formation).

A B C D

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Field of activity 3: Increasing the reliability of transport infrastructures

The German roads, railway and waterways infrastructure are often relatively old and have often exceed- ed their useful life expectancies. In order to assess the reliability of these important types of infrastructures, we worked on the research project

“Efficient engineering geodetic monitoring of transport structures”.

We developed various methods of engineering geodesy, photogrammetry and remote sensing under real-world conditions in order to make them available for practical application in regard to building inspections.

In addition to the further development of inclination measurement systems for practical application, we concentrated on the detection of surface changes, among other things with UAV-supported (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) image and laser-based methods (Fig. 20). The application of the different measuring methods showed that high demands are placed on both the measuring equipment (inclination sensors, UAV systems)

and the respective evaluation in order to achieve the necessary measuring precision and to be able to derive quality-assured products.

Preliminary results showed that time-series and data evaluation must be optimised in order to determine the respective deformation variables (e.g. tilting, height changes) with sufficient precision (e.g. Cramer et al. 2018). We also evaluated the potential of the satellite-based Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) technology for monitoring terrain deformation. For this purpose, radar images from the 2018 Sentinel 1 and TerraSAR-X missions were evaluated and the results obtained were compared.

In comparison, the data from the Sentinel-1 mission are less suitable for gathering small-scale terrain deformations as they have a lower spatial resolution, thus reducing the availability of data points (so- called persistent scatterers), especially in rural regions. All in all, the different recording methods provided valuable information to enable reliable monitoring of the transport infrastructure (e.g. locks).

Fig. 20: Left: Inclination measuring sys- tems with different inclination sensors, right: UAV system, here with a camera system © BfG

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Field of activity 4: Consist- ently developing and using digital technologies

This field of activity addresses modern and future technologies in relation to digitalisation and sees itself as an interface and consultancy service for the requirements of the Network of Experts as a whole.

The BfG focused here on today’s data processing technologies. This includes large data sets that can no longer be handled using traditional tools (e.g. Big Data) and so-called Linked Data, i.e. structured data sets that are interconnected and therefore easier to query. In addition, the exchange of data between agencies is to be better structured. A scalable and flexible IT infrastructure was established for big data using freely available Apache Hadoop software.

Operation is still in the pilot phase and requires further configuration and updating. For a time-series analysis, an IT infrastructure was set up to efficiently analyse hundreds of millions of time series in a short period of time.

Field of activity 5: Enhanced development of renewable energy in transport and infrastructure

In this field of activity, the BfG investigated the extent to which renewable energy can be used to provide the electricity required by pumping stations to manage shipping canals. Using the example of the Mittelland and Elbe lateral canals (Fig. 21, left), we sim- ulated the operation of five pumping stations with renewable energy (RE) using several balance models developed specifically for this purpose. The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems with a module surface area of approx. 15 hectares could generate an average of 100% of the electricity required over many years. However, if the actual distribution over time is considered, 74% of the energy demand could be covered. An optimised pump control system using the canal as an energy buffer could increase this share to 78%

(Fig. 21, right). Due to strong daily and seasonal differences with an energy surplus in summer and energy deficit in winter, it would make sense to set up storage facilities and use other types of generation, such as wind power.

Fig. 21: Left: Map with the investigation area highlighted in blue. Right: Model results for the assumed renewable energy production, the energy consumption of the pumping stations and the shares of renewable energy in consumption, each related to the period from 11/2000 to 10/2015.

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Outlook

Phase 1 of the Network of Experts was completed on schedule by 31 December 2019. After this, the

“Network of Experts 2.0” started in January 2020 – plans for its contin- uation until 2025 are already under- way. The five fields of activity will be further developed, with the focus being adapted to the current state of

science and the demands of users.

In addition to the previous fields of activity, the cross-sectional topic

“Transport and Economic Analy- ses” will therefore be introduced in the second phase of the Network of Experts. This field of activity aims to assess the scientific results of the Network of Experts in terms of their practical suitability and to promote their exploitation.

References:

BMVI (2015): KLIWAS – Impacts of Climate Change on Waterways and Navigation in Germany – Concluding report of the BMVI, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). https://www.kliwas.de/KLI- WAS/EN/Service/Downloads/publica- tions/concluding_report.pdf

BMVI-Expertennetzwerk (2020): Ver- kehr und Infrastruktur an Klimawandel und extreme Wetterereignisse anpas- sen. Ergebnisbericht des Themenfel- des 1 im BMVI-Expertennetzwerk für die Forschungsphase 2016 – 2019, Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (BMVI), Berlin cramer, M., N. haala, D. laupheimer,

G. mandlburger, P. havel (2018): Ul- tra-high precision UAV-based LIDAR and dense image matching. Inter- national Archives of the Photogram- metry, Remote Sensing & Spatial Information Sciences, 42. Jg., Nr. 1 IPCC (2007): AR4 Synthesis Report:

Climate Change 2007: https://www.

ipcc.ch/report/ar4/syr/full-report/

IPCC (2014): AR5 Synthesis Report:

Climate Change 2014: https://www.

ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

https://www.bmvi-experten netzwerk.de/EN

Contact:

Dr. Daniel Esser (daniel.esser@bafg.de)

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Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC)

For more than 30 years, the Global Runoff Data Centre has been work- ing on the premises of the Federal Institute of Hydrology. GRDC bundles quality-assured information on more than 7,000 rivers from 159 countries in one database. We hence operate the most extensive collection of runoff data worldwide. Under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organisa- tion (WMO), GRDC has been supporting water and climate-related United Nations programmes and projects, scientific research as well as the man- agement of transboundary water-bodies and catchments since 1988. The data are also used for detecting climate change, to improve usage of global water resources as well as for planning hydraulic structures and calibrating earth observation satellites.

Annual Report 2018/2019