Pretziener Wehr, Flood control weir in Schönebeck, Germany.

The Pretziener Wehr is a flood control structure on the Elbe River in Schönebeck with nine openings and 36 gate panels arranged between ten supporting pillars. The total width spans about 113 meters and allows precise management of water flow.

The structure was built between 1871 and 1875 based on plans by Hermann Wurffbain. It was constructed to protect the cities of Schönebeck and Magdeburg from Elbe River flooding.

The weir's operation has been governed since December 1881 by a decree still valid in its essentials: it opens when the Barby gauge reaches 5.92 metres and closes once the level falls below 5.25 metres. Opening takes about five hours with 16 staff, starting with the top row of panels to build a water cushion below.

The structure is clearly visible from the riverbank and can be viewed from various points along the Elbe. The best views are from the paths on both sides of the river, which provide different perspectives of the installation.

When the weir opens, up to a quarter of the Elbe's discharge is diverted through the Elbe-Umflutkanal, passing east of Magdeburg and Schönebeck via Biederitz. The weir opens once the Barby gauge reaches 5.92 metres and closes when it falls below 5.25 metres, a rule in force since December 1881.