Weesener Bach

Pond at the source of the stream Weesener

The Weesener Bach is a left tributary of the eastern Örtze east of Hermannsburg, in the district of Celle in Lower Saxony. Its valley is completely put under protection in the 348 -hectare nature reserve Weesener Bach.

Source and course

The Weesener Bach, also called Lutterbach, originates in South Heath Nature Park, south of the town Lutterloh at Unterluess, then flows through the Hermannsburg Weesen district and flows 13.7 km in the north Hermann Petersburg in the Örtze.

Originally Weesener creek had its source in a bog. For dewatering of the underlying surfaces it was extended by a moat. The former marshland was converted to a large extent to the pond area. The ponds are covered over wide areas with pond horsetail. The entire course of the stream with its edge region, a total of 348 ha, was placed under protection in 1999. This was mainly the preserved water sections with their alder forests, willow trees and the reed fringes, as well as the quellige and vermoorte Talniederung with their break and swamp forest residues. The edge of the creek still intensively managed meadows and pastures were taken out of use. This creates a near-natural Heidebach has been preserved, its water quality, except in the upper reaches of which are the source ponds, the highest grades I-II lightly loaded ( oligo-to betamesosaprob ) on points.

Flora and Fauna

On account of the high water quality you can find here a variety of unusual creatures. Of fish live in the brook trout, bullhead and brook lamprey. In the year 1987 176 animal species have been recorded here, of which 36 species are listed on the Red List. In the Waterside area, or in the Bachaue, one finds an additional 60 threatened species, such as vascular plants, mosses, amphibians and reptiles. Also, the kingfisher here holds up.

Water maintenance

The water maintenance of Weesener creek is up by the Lower Saxony Water Act the Consumer Federation Örtze. Here sat the entertainment federation in the 1970s tracked excavator, making the brook was deepened and enormous environmental damage to the waters arose the continuing effect today. The solid and gritty sole of the stream was destroyed and an enormous sand engine came from Lutterloh to Hermannsburg in motion. Even large sand traps in the area " Sunder " could not stop this sand movements. In the sandy soil can invertebrates that form the main food of brown trout do not survive. The trout may also not propagate, since the spawning can only develop on a gravelly subsoil. If it is covered by sand, suffocate the larvae.

Citizens and associations (among the " citizens' initiative South Heath " ) saw this development with concern. The Weesener councilor Peter Buttgereit was as part of its local political activity, a member of the Association Meeting of the Association of entertainment and reached after years of hard struggle that was to dispense with the mechanical clearance. Since 1984, large sections of the creek are manually maintained. In particular, the association special purpose " Conservation friends Weesen eV " performing these tasks each year in the fall.

Lutter mill

Near the mouth is still today a water mill ( Lutter mill) with an overshot water wheel. The mill was a sawmill in operation since 1757.

To an approximately 1 kilometer long channel, the water was to lead to the mill specially dug with which you raised the water running at the same time. Directly in front of the mill, a large pond was created. They needed this pond to get through the extra water more power for the water wheel. When the gang saw particularly much force was needed, for example to cut large oaks, the additional water was essential. In earlier times, the canal was closed off once a year, the water was then diverted to the old original stream bed. Then the alluvial and deposited sand was dug out from the pond. Because of the enormous amount of work you later went on it. They put on a separate drain and had from time to time the pond specifically expire very quickly.

Originally, there was even a grain mill and a tannery. The water was then selectively used for the sawmill, or directed to the overshot waterwheel also the grain mill on. In general, the water wheel of the sawmill and night was driven to the wheel of a grain mill on the day. Since a fire in 1995, the operation is set. The waterwheel sawmill was renewed and sometimes drives an electricity generator.

The mill complex is today from a nature conservation point of view a great burden on these ecologically very valuable Heidebach. The facility provides for small fish and trout an obstacle to the Aufwanderung dar. order to achieve an exchange between Örtze and stream headwaters, it is imperative to set up a fish ladder in the old river bed in the area of the mill. This has so far failed because of resistance from the landowner and the conservation authorities are apparently powerless.

The Weesener creek between Lutterloh and Weesen

Channel for Lutter mill