Overview
- A Science Media Center analysis published Wednesday found nine major German river basins experienced prolonged very-low to extremely-low flows during the 2025/26 hydrological year.
- NIWIS data show about 20% of measured flows fell into the 'very' or 'extremely low' categories in January 2026 and roughly 35% did so in August–September, using 1991–2020 seasonal benchmarks.
- Experts link the pattern to warming that reduces snow and glacier buffering and to historical river straightening, bank hardening and deepening that speed runoff and lower riverbeds.
- Low flows plus high summer temperatures have damaged habitat and ecosystem function and authorities say short-term fixes like dredging or new weirs are ineffective and can worsen problems downstream.
- Scientists and river managers are calling for long-term renaturation — for example reconnecting floodplains and rewetting mires — and for adapting navigation and infrastructure while noting that whether winter rains will restore depleted soils and groundwater remains unclear.