Between Bardolino, Sirmione and Desenzano: the lack of water in Lake Garda is becoming more and more drastic. Now the Italian government in Rome is getting involved.
Munich/Rome/Lake Garda - Italy is not only struggling with the mass influx of tourists in many places, such as between Sorrento, Positano and Salerno, where the famous Amalfitana on the Amalfi Coast is only accessible to a limited extent.
Drought and water shortages in Lake Garda: Italy appoints special commissioner
When German holidaymakers drive down the toll motorway "Brennero" in a southerly direction, the place of longing Lake Garda lies on the right hand side between the Affi exit and the city of Verona (around 250,000 inhabitants). However, with an area of 370 square kilometres, the country's largest inland body of water has been struggling between Torbole, Bardolino, Sirmione, Desenzano and Limone sul Garda since spring 2022 with sometimes dramatically low water levels due to a lack of rainfall.
Now the Italian government in Rome has intervened and appointed a special commissioner for the fight against drought and drought throughout Italy. According to the FAZ, the situation on Lake Garda is said to have played a decisive role in this decision.
Meanwhile within walking distance: The Isola di San Biagio in Lake Garda in Italy at the end of April 2023. © IMAGO/Manuel Romano
This is remarkable, given that there have been strong decentralisation tendencies in Italy's political system since the 1990s. Simplified: Problems should first be solved on site. But in this case, the local authorities are apparently no longer able to do so. The special commissioner is now expected to remain in office until the end of the year, although his term of office could be extended by one year. His name: Nicola Dell'Acqua, which translates roughly as "Nicola of the Water".
Water shortage in Lake Garda: low water levels between Bardolino and Sirmione
According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.), Dell'Acqua was previously head of the regional authority "Veneto Agricoltura" and in this capacity already coordinated all projects to combat drought in the Veneto region, where the southeastern shore of Lake Garda is located. When Dell' Acqua took office, he demanded that all ministries and the various administrative levels now have to work in the same direction.
After a summit meeting, Italian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini also announced 100 million euros in emergency aid for urgent measures. Time is of the essence: In the north of Italy and in the Alps, there is consistently far too little rain. Accordingly, the water levels in the northern Italian lakes are falling. "We are registering a volume of water that has never been so low in the past," Pierlucio Ceresa, the secretary general of the Association of Lake Garda Municipalities, was quoted as saying by tagesschau.de in February. On 31 March, dramatic figures for Lake Garda were reported.
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The stone stretches of beach in front of the Sirmione headland extend far into Lake Garda. © IMAGO/Manuel Romano
Specifically, according to data from the "Agenzia Interregionale per il fiume PO" (AIPO for short), the water level on March 31, 2023 was on average just 47 centimeters above the specified comparative zero value. The AIPO is a public body that collects water levels in the vicinity of the Po River. It is the largest river in Italy, whose tributary Mincio rises just near Peschiera del Garda. A comparison: In 2018, the water level in Lake Garda averaged 90 centimetres, and in 2013 it was as high as 130 centimetres.
Drought on Lake Garda in Italy: water levels have not risen for months
Striking: According to the Allgäuer Zeitung, the water levels have not risen for months, as is usually the case in spring. For example, the water level averaged 46 centimetres in January and an average of 45 centimetres in February - all historic lows. (pm)