The water balance in Lusatia is strongly characterised by lignite mining and the associated groundwater elevations. For over 100 years, the water extracted in this way supported the water balance of the region, which is actually characterised by water scarcity, and fed rivers, nature and industry. With the Coal Phase-out Act, this period is coming to an end, but the question remains: What is the future of the water balance?
Module C of the ZuWaKo project created a qualitative model in which the various options for action, such as water transfers and water storage expansion, can be analysed under different framework conditions. Stakeholders from ministries, mining rehabilitation, environmental protection and local working groups as well as experts in the fields of agriculture, transformation research, climate research, land use, market research, mining, hydrogeology and geoecology were involved in the development process.
At the end of April 2025, the model was tested in an online workshop with eight stakeholders and experts using a serious game, the Futurescapes Navigator. The participants first played two rounds in teams and then one round in plenary, exploring different future scenarios. The simulation game was particularly appreciated as a basis for exchange and discussion. The model can illustrate the interrelationships and the decision-making tasks and convey the high complexity of the topic. The participants see the game as an opportunity to improve dialogue between decision-makers and at the same time provide a good overview of the challenges ahead.
