Hochwasserrückhaltebecken Salzderhelden

Hochwasserrückhaltebecken Salzderhelden is a retention facility near Einbeck with five polder sections managed by a 116-meter-long main dam along the Leine River. It operates by capturing water during heavy rainfall and releasing it in a controlled way to prevent flooding in downstream areas.

This retention system was conceived in the 1970s to address flooding risks in the region and became operational in 1994 after an extended planning and construction period. It represented a major step forward in modern flood management infrastructure along the lower Leine valley.

The permanent lake in Polder I today serves as a refuge where visitors can observe native and migratory birds in their natural habitat. This balance between water management and nature conservation is important to the communities downstream.

Visitors can view the facility from surrounding walking paths and explore the polder area on foot, particularly the lake in Polder I which is openly accessible. The best times to visit are during bird migration seasons in fall and spring when migratory species rest in the area.

During extreme flooding events like the winter flood of 2023-2024, the facility's critical importance becomes clear, as water levels reached historic highs and even Polder 5, normally kept dry, was activated for the first time. Such extreme events demonstrate that this infrastructure remains essential for protecting downstream communities against future climate challenges.

Location: Einbeck

GPS coordinates: 51.79750,9.91844

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:41