Geodatensatz
Phosphorus inputs from the eight largest sewage treatment plants on the German Baltic Sea coast (about 70% of direct dischargers) decreased by 98% between 1990 and 2008. In the same period, nitrogen input decreased by 89% (about 90% of direct dischargers). A comparison of the periods 1986/90 and 2004/08 shows that riverine discharges of total phosphorus decreased by 61%, primarily due to reduced inputs from point sources. Nitrogen input, mostly from diffuse sources, decreased only by 13%, half of the decrease being attributable to lower runoff. The distribution pattern of phosphate concentrations in winter shows that levels in the inner coastal waters are in the same order of magnitude as in the open sea. By contrast, nitrate concentrations are 50 - 70 times higher than in the open sea due to the fact that diffuse sources prevail in the drainage area and that nitrate levels are closely coupled to runoff in the inner coastal waters, especially in the estuaries of the river Odra including Haff and Peenestrom, the rivers Warnow and Trave. These reduced inputs are also reflected in the decline of total phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, both in the inner coastal waters and in the adjacent Baltic Sea waters. The strongest decline was recorded up to the mid-1990s, after which concentrations have fluctuated at a relatively stable level, often associated with runoff. Nevertheless, all areas still have to be considered eutrophied, in accordance with the HELCOM classification (HELCOM [2009]). Water quality in the open sea areas (western Belt Sea, Kiel Bight, Arkona Basin, Zingst outer coast) is classified as moderate, whereas waters closer to the coast and in more enclosed areas (Flensburg Fjord, southern Kiel Bight, Lübeck Bight, Wismar Bight, and Pomeranian Bight) have to be classified as -bad- applying the WFD assessment criteria. Eutrophication is particularly high in the inner coastal waters (Schlei, Lower Trave, Lower Warnow, Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain, Jasmund Bodden, Peenestrom, Kleines Haff). The orientation values for inner coastal waters are exceeded several times and apparently have been set too low, especially because of their missing gradients toward the open Baltic Sea. They require scientific review.
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