"This is climate change!" Georg rebhan looks anxiously at the muddy ground on which he is standing. This one actually had to be covered with water, so much that it should actually stand here up to the neck. What it had done until two or three years ago. But the extremely dry and hot past year and the current year, which is also low in precipitation, have taken their toll on the upper house lake at sandhof. "It had to rain 20 liters a day for a long time for the lake to fill up again", says rebhan.
Oberhaid’s mayor carsten joneitis (SPD) nods in agreement. Rebhan is the expert in forest, lake and nature, whom the mayor often consults when he wants to know something about these areas. The 82-year-old is regularly out and about in the woods and meadows and knows his way around oberhaid very well. This also includes the former jesuit farm sandhof, located in the direction of appendorf. Well known to many locals and visitors, because you can set off from here to the habberge nature park and you are in a recreational area here. Sandhof, the ensemble (privately owned), is a listed building,
Two surrounding former carp ponds (state-owned) are natural monuments. Originally, as shown by a copy of a historical map that rebhan possesses, there were even four fish ponds and a holder here. Of these, the so-called upper and lower house lakes have survived the times, whereby the lower lake has meanwhile silted up, i.E. Has become only land without water. The same fate now threatens the upper house lake, located west of the strabe and opposite sandhof and the lower house lake. Rebhan cannot say whether there are still fish in the water. What he sees are a few blesshuhner.
If upper lake silts up, it means chain reaction, mayor says.
Because it feeds the monchsee; which in turn feeds the new lake in the east of oberhaid and the new lake muhlbach and muhle in the center of the village. This belongs to the community and, as is well known, is to be revived. The plans are in place, the extensive project is already in progress.
Rebhan as well as joneitis do not believe that the upper haussee can still manage on its own, i.E. That there will be enough precipitation to fill up the almost 10,000 square meters of lake surface again.
A landmark
Apart from its ecological importance, the upper house lake "is important for the appearance of the town", the mayor emphasizes. He is now counting on a meeting with forestry, monument protection and the lower nature conservation authority to consider who could take which measures to save the lake. Because rebhan as well as joneitis see here an absolute lake emergency given, which one must absolutely meet. "After all, future generations should also be able to enjoy and experience something beautiful," the second-grader clarified, as rebhan puts it.
What do experts from the lower nature conservation authority at the district office have to say about the oberhaider case?? As a matter of principle, nature conservation monuments – including trees, for example – may not be damaged or destroyed. They have basic protected status. Of course, siltation zones are also of great ecological value. However, one must see the individual case and then decide, let the authority know.
Rebhan and joneitis are eagerly awaiting the appointment and hope that a way will be found to preserve the upper haussee as such, that it will remain a lake.