Attersee water outflow reduced to combat drought

Ongoing drought conditions have placed significant pressure on Attersee and the Ager river in Austria. To prevent an ecologically critical low-water situation, water rights authorities have ordered an immediate temporary change to the control system at the Klauswehr.

The outflow from Attersee into the Ager has been reduced to 4.5 cubic meters per second. Environmental and Climate Councilor Stefan Kaineder stated that the goal is to slow the decline of the lake level while ensuring enough water remains to sustain life in the Ager river.

Recent measurements indicate a rapid decline in water levels; the Attersee dropped approximately four centimeters in one week, falling from a level of 100 centimeters on August 5 to 96 centimeters by August 12. Currently, the lake is losing more water through outflow than it is receiving from inflows like the Seeache.