Hochwasserrückhaltebecken Eicherscheid, Flood control reservoir in Bad Münstereifel, Germany.
The Eicherscheid detention basin is a dam structure along the upper Erft River designed to hold back water during heavy rainfall. The facility sits within a forested setting and connects to walking and cycling paths that wind through the surrounding landscape.
The basin was constructed in the 1970s to protect the towns of Bad Münstereifel and Euskirchen from flooding. The area had experienced repeated severe flood events that made such a control structure necessary for public safety.
The cycling and walking paths around this structure bring visitors through an area integrated into local recreation habits. People use the routes regularly to explore the Erft valley, where water management and nature coexist as part of daily life.
The basin is easily accessible by public transit and cycling routes, especially via the popular Erft bike path from Bad Münstereifel. The best time to visit is outside rainy seasons when the paths are dry and easy to walk.
During a catastrophic flood in 2021, the basin experienced an extreme water surge that far exceeded its design capacity. The event demonstrated both the critical role of such infrastructure and the potential impact of rare extreme weather on engineered flood protection.
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