BERLIN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Only 6.6 percent of Germany's natural watercourses achieved the ecologically good standard set by the European Union, local media reported on Monday, quoting the German Environment Ministry.
Germany has identified nearly 9,000 natural watercourses of rivers and streams across the country.
Previously existing fish and plant cannot be found now in 93 percent of them. Some 79 percent had been "obviously, even completely changed in structure" by their extensions, according to the ministry.
The ministry has put the blame on impacts of agricultural activities such as using chemical fertilizer and pesticide spraying, and constructing levees.
Waters are still considered as threatened living space in Germany, though water quality has improved, local media reported.
According to the EU Water Framework Directive, all waters in Europe should achieve "good chemical status" and "good ecological status" by 2027.
