Bucher Stausee, reservoir in Germany

Bucher Stausee is a large reservoir covering about 27 hectares, located in the Buch district of Rainau in Baden-Württemberg. A flat walking path circles the entire lake with benches for resting, a 150-meter sandy beach, and grassy areas for picnics and barbecues, along with changing facilities and children's play equipment.

Built by the Wasserverband Obere Jagst and put into operation in 1982, the reservoir dams the Jagst, a tributary of the Neckar. In 1995 the Förderverein Wind- und Wasserkraft Ostalb began installing a small hydropower plant, completed in spring 1996 with a 25 kW turbine. The southeastern forebay and its banks were designated the Vorbecken Buch nature reserve on 30 July 1990.

The lake takes its name from the Buch district of Rainau, and the Jagst is held back by an earth dam with a clay core, its water side faced with concrete slabs. In summer the water surface covers 25.8 hectares, while in winter the level is drawn down to leave more flood storage space. At the shore, remains of the Buch fort of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes can be seen.

The reservoir is easy to reach with parking available nearby for visitors. The flat paths are accessible to everyone including wheelchair users, and the area is well maintained and safe for all ages.

The Vorbecken Buch nature reserve, designated on 30 July 1990, covers 11.2 hectares, not five. More than 20 wader species have been recorded there, including the Temminck's stint, red-necked phalarope and marsh sandpiper, and the reserve was enlarged in 1999 by digging ponds and shallow seasonal wet meadows.