Initial situation

Since the mid-nineteenth century over 2 billion tonnes of lignite have been mined from excavations as deep as 60 meters in the region between Senftenberg, Spremberg, and Hoyerswerda. Since the mid-1990s the LMBV has been responsible for reclaiming and rehabilitating contaminated former mining industry sites in the area.
An inter-state boundary runs through the chain of former opencast mine sites, and at an early stage the two states of Brandenburg and Saxony proclaimed their intention to commission the work needed which would render the former mining areas safe, and allow their after-use for tourism.

Approach

As well as the revitalisation of former industrial sites (power stations, coal briquette plants, coking plants) it is above all the former opencast mining sites that must be restored so that they meet regional planning guidelines and mining regulations and are once again safe to use.
The Lusatian Lakeland is one of the highlights of the rehabilitation. For what will be altogether 21 lakes with a total surface area of 13,000 hectares, the work involves three separate steps; initially, rendering the former excavations geotechnically safe; then, secondly, flooding them; and finally, developing their associated infrastructure. Navigable canals will link 13 of these lakes, having a combined area of 7,000 hectares, with one another.

Result

Rendering the open pit slopes safe has been largely completed. The postmining lakes are now being filled. The first three navigable canals have already been completed. The temporary intermediate use of the lakes for tourism already began in 2003. Since then, water sports are possible in defined, geotechnically safe areas of the 1120-hectare Partwitzer Lake, of the 620- hectare Geierswalder Lake, and of the 1330-hectare Sedlitzer Lake. The LMBV access roads girdling the new lakes are now open as asphalted lake perimeter roads which can be used by skaters, cyclists, and hikers. The first floating house on the Partwitzer Lake is a visible sign of the developing tourist infrastructure.