Consequences of the heat

Algae plague in the Traun worse than ever before

The Traun between Wels and Marchtrenk is not a pretty sight at the moment.

(Bild: ZVG)

The heat of the last few days, a low water level and the low current are causing an alarming development between the east of Wels and the Marchtrenk power station. The algae are "blooming" to an unusually high degree. The pictures are not pretty to look at and, at worst, there is the threat of a foul smell.

Wels City Councillor for the Environment Thomas Rammerstorfer (Greens) is sounding the alarm: "In the backwater area between the Marchtrenk power plant and the Pernau district, as well as at the Lambach power plant, the algae plague is worse than ever before."

Restricted training operations
Although there is no immediate health risk, the development still worries him: "For larger fish, but also for recreational use, the extreme occurrence of algae is of course a problem." The rowing club is currently only able to train to a limited extent on some sections of the Traun.

The fertilizer used in agriculture also contributes to the proliferation of algae and other aquatic plants.

Thomas Rammerstorfer, Grünen-Stadtrat über die Algenplage

The further development cannot be predicted. When the algae die off, methane could be produced and the foul gases could lead to a foul odor.

Traun has 23 degrees
The cause of the algae plague is almost certain. It is the high water temperatures in the Traun of 23 degrees and more. When there is a lot of direct sunlight on the surface of the water, the algae multiply explosively in the warm water.

Low current
In addition, the water level is low, the current is very weak and there are (too) many nutrients: "The introduction of agricultural fertilizers also contributes to the proliferation of algae and other aquatic plants," explains Rammerstorfer.