Dalke

The Dalke north of Verl

River course

Headwaters as Bullerbach

The source of the Dalke called the Bullerbach in the upper reaches is located 138 meters above sea level in the Bielefeld area Senne city. The water springs actually already east of Bright basic mountain in the range of Lämershagen, but seeps after a few hundred meters flow path as the majority of the springing of the Teutoburg forest streams after leaving the highlands in the sand. Since the water-impermeable marl layer southwest of the Teutoburg Forest reaches the surface, the river Senne in town in a consuming renatured source finally comes to light again.

The Bullerbach flowing in a natural stream valley from the southwest direction and is dammed in the range of Senne city in several places. First, the water flows through the nearly 8000 m² park, pond, then the 17,160 m² and the district office Senne townhouse surrounding city pond, and finally another as a mill pond designated storage facility.

In the course of Bullerbach performs Eckardtsheim, where it holds the left side to jump on Bach and is called from this Zuflauf " Dalke ".

Middle reaches to city limits Gütersloh

Southwest of Eckardtsheim leaves the Dalke the Bielefeld city, enters the sub-district of Verl and takes shortly after the tapering of Dalbke Strothbach on. Subsequently, the water heads north on Verler transmission over the district, crosses under the Federal Highway 2 and enters the protected area Big Meadow. Once within this grassland complex, feeds Hasselbach and Bekelbach were taken, the Dalke first forms the boundary between city and Verl Gütersloh, finally enters Gütersloh district and flows through to almost exactly 15 kilometers, the urban area.

Underflow to the mouth

To the south of the district Avenwedde takes Dalke at the level of strand mill on the creek Menke. Then crosses the waters from east to west running the Gütersloher downtown area and forms an almost continuous green corridor, to be passed in the course of which, among others, the Gütersloh City Park with the Parkbad and the Rieger Park. About two kilometers from the mouth is the sewage treatment plant Putzhagen, the central wastewater treatment plant of Gütersloh. About a kilometer before reaching the Ems ( the there, the border city of Gütersloh marked for Herzebrock -Clarholz ), the Dalke in Pavenstädt district takes in the vicinity of the "New Mill" on the Wapelbach.

Tributaries

The following table lists the tributaries of the Dalke downriver viewed on:

History

The first mention of the river comes from the year 1001. The " Dellina " or " Delchana " formed the boundary of the Paderborn Forestry spell. From the middle of the 18th century was the Dalke customs border. During the time of the Kingdom of Westphalia, they formed the boundary between the town Gütersloh, which belonged to the Grand Duchy of Berg, and the peasantry Kattenstroth (now a district of Gütersloh ), which belonged to the kingdom of Westphalia.

In the 19th century intervened to a greater extent in the course of the river. During 1800, numerous rivers, tributaries influenced the Dalke, the river was already around 1897 almost the present course. In the years 1841, 1881 and 1946, Dalke occurred after severe weather over the bank and set up some considerable damage to buildings Gütersloher downtown, including ones in the St. Elisabeth Hospital.

In the late 1960s, the river was straightened for reasons of flood protection. The Dalke was widened from 2 to 6 meters and got as part of the regulation places a concrete bed, so they had duct-like character, which was perceived by many citizens as Gütersloher eyesore. In the 1990s until the mid- 2000s, Dalke was renatured. It evolved again a diverse habitat for wildlife; with a bike and hiking trail along its banks, the river serves as a recreational area.

Other restoration measures were carried out in the area around the source in Senne city. After you built the source area of the Bull Erbach in the 1970s with a massive backup of stones and concrete, was made a natural transformation in 2001, which was completed in the fall of 2003 through the establishment of a wooden walkway with viewing platform.

Water quality

The Bullerbach is assigned to the area of ​​its Quelltals the water quality class I-II, is thus regarded as " lightly loaded " and is one of the few waters on the Bielefeld city that can have such a low load condition. However, the state of water quality deteriorates with the passage of the reservoirs, from this point is considered Class II - III and thus a critical load. Just before the confluence of the creek jump, however, the grade II will be recovered, which corresponds to a moderate load.

Numerous discharges into the Dalke meant that the quality of the water had to be classified on Gütersloher urban area in the 1980s as heavily polluted ( water quality class III). Today, the loading condition has improved but again, the Dalke is in this area throughout the water quality class II - III associate and thus charged as critical rate.

The Dalke as Nutzgewässer

With the water of Dalke for centuries water mills alone eight mills were operated, of which on the territory of the town of Gütersloh. The seen from the source first plant is already contained in the south of Senne city. This is the winter mill; a now converted to a hotel converted watermill. The associated mill pond but still crossed by Bullerbach.

The easternmost Gütersloher mill is the mill Eikelmann, the south of the Great Meadow at the level of the city limits is against Verl. This grain mill has since been shut down, the former 3,500 sqm large mill pond exists, however, continue. North of Sürenheide the Dalke flows at the mouth of the Bekelbaches at the 1823 built and 1951 refurbished watermill Ruth man along, a still functioning machine mill, in which the shot still vertically by elevators (lifts ) and Bleck downpipes was transported. Around two kilometers downstream is located at Avenwedde the strand mill, one of the oldest mills Gütersloh, which was in operation in early 18th century. Since the 1960s, however, the building is no longer in operation.

At the height of the parking bath in the district Sundern is the mill Avenstroth. With this system it is a part still functioning grain mill; Moreover, the first mentioned in records in 1532 and thus probably used oldest Gütersloher mill since 1953 by the municipal utilities to generate electricity. Another former attachment named Meier's mill is located west of the city park, which was used Kolk mid-19th century as the first Gütersloher free bathhouse. Since the 1950s, the operation of the grain mill was set.

Not far from the mouth of the Dalke eventually leads past the new mill, which once served, among other things for the production of edible oil, but now no longer is in operation and is used as a restaurant today. The preserved associated pond where the nationally known " competition over water " will be held today.

With Office Brinks mill and mill Barkeys Formerly two other mills on Gütersloher urban area, however, have been demolished by now.