Did you know that the Elsterbecken in Leipzig wasn’t always a tranquil water expanse? It was once bustling Frankfurter Wiesen. These were vast meadows dotted with small ponds and copses. The White Elster river flowed much further west. The area often flooded. Building was impossible except for the Ratsziegelei a brickworks with clay pits. The meadows served as pasture.
The Elsterbecken as we see it today is a man-made marvel. Plans to control flooding date back to the 1850s. Debate raged for decades. Some favored artificial lakes others a long basin. The 1909 flood was a turning point. In 1911 the city council decided on the Elsterbecken. Construction began in 1913.
The project was ambitious. A water basin was planned along with impressive buildings for the Leipzig Fair. The land created by the regulation was intended to finance the project. The First World War delayed completion. The Elsterbecken was finally finished in 1925. The old riverbeds were filled in. Two bridges span the Elsterbecken: the Zeppelin Bridge built 1913-1915 and the Landauer Bridge.
Mud was dredged from the Elsterbecken. It was used to fill the surrounding area and create a festival meadow. World War II damaged the Luppe weir. The Elsterbecken silted up. The mud was later used for the nearby Zentralstadion.
Today the Elsterbecken is shallow. Sediments from the White Elster and Pleiße rivers constantly deposit. The planned depth of over 1.5 meters has been significantly reduced in many areas. Floods lead to silting and island formation. The Elsterbecken was dredged in 2005/2006. Flooding in 2013 deposited another 80 000 tons of sediment. Dredging lasted until early 2019.
The Elsterbecken’s original flood control function is compromised by the shallow water. Plans are underway to reopen the Elstermühlgraben and reinstate the old Elster riverbed. Sediment-rich water would bypass the Elsterbecken at low and medium water levels. The higher flow rate would prevent sediment deposition. The Elsterbecken would become a still body of water. The Luppe weir was modified to isolate the Elsterbecken from the New Luppe. During floods the weir would be lowered for rapid drainage.
The Bund environmental group criticizes these plans. They believe that the old Elster is unnecessary for flood control. They propose restoring the Elstermühlgraben and transforming the Elsterbecken into a river landscape. This would enhance biodiversity. Maintaining a still Elsterbecken would cost the city significantly.
Despite its challenges the Elsterbecken remains a valuable asset. It’s part of the Leipzig Auenwald’s green corridor. Both banks are popular with Leipzig residents and visitors. South of the Zeppelin Bridge lies the Richard-Wagner-Hain. A well-used pedestrian and cycle path runs along the right bank. The Elsterbecken is also a waterbird sanctuary. It’s important for overwintering birds. And since 2015 at least two beaver families have made their home here leaving their mark on the trees.