Ronceva
Encyclopedia
The Ronceva is a stream that flows through the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke
.
and Horsts Höhe at the lower end of the Mensinger Ravine
. It flows initially to the east of the B 239 federal road on its way to the town of Lübbecke. The stream flows underground in the area of the town itself.
North of the town the Ronceva resurfaces before emptying into the Flöthe flows within Lübbecke's industrial estate, immediately next to the factory buildings of Gauselmann (at ). The Ronceva has a length of around 5 km, of which about 1.5 km is piped underground.
The catchment area of the Ronceva covers around 4 km², i.e. just 7 % of the total area of the borough of Lübbecke.
In spite of its relatively short length the Ronceva flows through three markedly different landscapes: the Wiehen Hills, the Lübbecke Loessland
and finally the Rahden-Diepenau Geest
.
: lüt Beek or lüttke Beke )" refers to the Ronceva. It was the stream that provided the incentive to found a settlement here; the steep downhill course of the brook supplying power to water mills in the area of the present day town.
As a result the Ronceva was led along the eastern ditch of the town and, in about 1750, powered five mills in the town centre. Outside the town, in front of the Bergertor gate (south of the town wall) and the Niedertor gate (in the north of the town) two more mills were driven by the Ronceva. The best-known mill was the Reineberger Amtsmühle ("Reineberg
District Mill"). Its associated timber-framed building by the B239 is known today as the Königsmühle ("King's Mill").
The Ronceva was also depicted indirectly on the old coat of arms of the former district of Lübbecke. The wavy bar represents the etymological origin of Lübbecke, which is derived from Hlid beki, i.e. the stream (beki) which is called the Ronceva today. The colours of the coat of arms were those of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden as well as the County of Ravensberg. This old coat of arms was authorised in 1935 by the Prussian State Ministry but was replaced in 1968 by another coat of arms.
, the Ronceva is largely led through pipes. Only in the vicinity of the market place has it been made visible again (since 1988) and impounded to create a small pond. In addition, there are discussions about opening up the stream in other areas of the town centre. In the Overall Economic Plan for the Town Centre of Lübbecke it says :"(…) where the possibility exists, attempts should be made, in the area of the former course of the Ronceva, to make the stream visible again as a key and historic element (…)".
, roach
and gudgeon
. Fishing is permitted on the Ronceva from the Rote Mühle road to its confluence with the Flöthe.
Above Lübbecke the Ronceva has a water quality
of class I to II, and this section of the stream can therefore be described as as unpolluted or lightly polluted.
In the area of Lübbecke's industral estate the stream picks up the effluent from a sewage plant, in which waste water from a meat-processing plant is treated, so that the water quality of the Ronceva at its confluence with the Flöthe is quite clearly of class III (heavily polluted).
Lübbecke
Lübbecke is a town in northeast North Rhine-Westphalia in north Germany. This former county town lies on the northern slopes of the Wiehen Hills and has around 26,000 inhabitants. The town is in the Eastwestphalian district of Minden-Lübbecke...
.
Course
The source of the Ronceva lies at in the Wiehen between the hills of HeidbrinkHeidbrink
The Heidbrink is a hill which lies south of Lübbecke in central Germany and, at , is the highest peak in the Wiehen Hills. It is also the highest elevation in the district of Minden-Lübbecke in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
and Horsts Höhe at the lower end of the Mensinger Ravine
Mensinger Ravine
The Mensinger Ravine is a steep-sided valley in the Wiehen Hills in Central Germany that is situated on the territory of the town of Lübbecke in the district of Minden-Lübbecke....
. It flows initially to the east of the B 239 federal road on its way to the town of Lübbecke. The stream flows underground in the area of the town itself.
North of the town the Ronceva resurfaces before emptying into the Flöthe flows within Lübbecke's industrial estate, immediately next to the factory buildings of Gauselmann (at ). The Ronceva has a length of around 5 km, of which about 1.5 km is piped underground.
The catchment area of the Ronceva covers around 4 km², i.e. just 7 % of the total area of the borough of Lübbecke.
In spite of its relatively short length the Ronceva flows through three markedly different landscapes: the Wiehen Hills, the Lübbecke Loessland
Lübbecke Loessland
The Lübbecke Loessland is a natural region that is mainly situated in northeastern North Rhine-Westphalia but with a small area also lying in the western part of Lower Saxony in Germany. It is a belt of land, covered by loess, about 2 to 5 km wide and around 35 km long, that lies just north of the...
and finally the Rahden-Diepenau Geest
Rahden-Diepenau Geest
The Rahden-Diepenau Geest is a natural region in the extreme northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the neighbouring state of Lower Saxony in north Germany...
.
Historical importance
The old Saxon name for Lübbecke, Hlidbeki, which means kleiner Bach (English: little beck, Low GermanLow German
Low German or Low Saxon is an Ingvaeonic West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands...
: lüt Beek or lüttke Beke )" refers to the Ronceva. It was the stream that provided the incentive to found a settlement here; the steep downhill course of the brook supplying power to water mills in the area of the present day town.
As a result the Ronceva was led along the eastern ditch of the town and, in about 1750, powered five mills in the town centre. Outside the town, in front of the Bergertor gate (south of the town wall) and the Niedertor gate (in the north of the town) two more mills were driven by the Ronceva. The best-known mill was the Reineberger Amtsmühle ("Reineberg
Reineberg
The Reineberg is a hill on the Wiehen ridge, south of the town of Lübbecke. With a height of 275.9 m above sea level it is, from a topographical point of view, not a particularly impressive eminence in this part of the Wiehen Hills, because, in the immediate vicinity are considerably higher...
District Mill"). Its associated timber-framed building by the B239 is known today as the Königsmühle ("King's Mill").
The Ronceva was also depicted indirectly on the old coat of arms of the former district of Lübbecke. The wavy bar represents the etymological origin of Lübbecke, which is derived from Hlid beki, i.e. the stream (beki) which is called the Ronceva today. The colours of the coat of arms were those of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden as well as the County of Ravensberg. This old coat of arms was authorised in 1935 by the Prussian State Ministry but was replaced in 1968 by another coat of arms.
Appearance
Within the town limits, from the Ernst Barre Private BreweryErnst Barre Private Brewery
The Ernst Barre Private Brewery is a brewery in the East Westphalian town of Lübbecke in the central German district of Minden-Lübbecke and has its origins in the brewery founded in 1842 by Ernst Johann Barre. Based on beer production the firm, like its immediate competitor, the Herforder...
, the Ronceva is largely led through pipes. Only in the vicinity of the market place has it been made visible again (since 1988) and impounded to create a small pond. In addition, there are discussions about opening up the stream in other areas of the town centre. In the Overall Economic Plan for the Town Centre of Lübbecke it says :"(…) where the possibility exists, attempts should be made, in the area of the former course of the Ronceva, to make the stream visible again as a key and historic element (…)".
Economic and ecological importance
It spite of its overall drop in height of 180 metres the water power of the Ronceva no longer plays any role today because of its low annual water yield. On the positive side, it is now important for local sports anglers who are able to catch perchEuropean perch
The European perch, Perca fluviatilis, is a predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often known simply as perch. The species is a popular quarry for anglers and has been widely introduced beyond its native area,...
, roach
Roach
-Animals:* Cockroaches* Roach , including** Certain members of family Cyprinidae** the genus Rutilus*** Common Roach ** the California Roach of the monotypic genus Hesperoleucus-Other:...
and gudgeon
Gudgeon
A gudgeon is a circular fitting, often made of metal, which is affixed to a surface. It allows for the pivoting of another fixture. It is generally used with a pintle, which is a pin which pivots in the hole in the gudgeon. As such, a gudgeon is a simple bearing.-Winged gudgeons:A winged gudgeon...
. Fishing is permitted on the Ronceva from the Rote Mühle road to its confluence with the Flöthe.
Above Lübbecke the Ronceva has a water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
of class I to II, and this section of the stream can therefore be described as as unpolluted or lightly polluted.
In the area of Lübbecke's industral estate the stream picks up the effluent from a sewage plant, in which waste water from a meat-processing plant is treated, so that the water quality of the Ronceva at its confluence with the Flöthe is quite clearly of class III (heavily polluted).