Straußfurt flood retention basin
- Client
- Thüringer Fernwasserversorgung
- Country
- Germany
- Period
- 2021-ongoing
The Challenge
The Straußfurt Flood Retention Basin constitutes an essential component of technical flood protection in Central Germany. For more than 60 years, it has protected the downstream reaches of the Unstrut River in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt from flood events, currently providing a retention volume of 18.6 million m³.
The Solution
The impounding structure consists of an embankment dam with an inclined impervious core and an upstream asphalt-concrete facing serving as surface protection. The structure also includes the control structure – a four-bay gated spillway integrated into the dam, which provides the primary regulation of releases to the downstream channel – as well as the flood release facility, comprising an overflow crest, a collection channel, a chute, and a downstream stilling basin.
The Impact
The full water level target will be raised by 1.0 m, expanding the flood retention area by approximately 10 million m³. This upgrade ensures enhanced flood protection for the downstream region under future climate conditions. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.