The Schwarzer Schöps case study is located at the East of Germany. The catchment area is about 136 km2, most of which is used as cropland (54%) and grassland (20%). The area is facing an increase of severe floods, soil erosion, and droughts, with negative implications for crop yield stability. In addition, the downstream reservoir Quitzdorf suffers more often from low water tables and high phosphorus pollution which is causing blue-green algae bloom and threatening its multiple services, in particular its important role for nature protection, recreation, and maintaining downstream environmental flows.
OPTAIN seeks for efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as their functioning to filter, buffer and transform pollutants. Increasing the catchment potential for retaining water and nutrients cannot only help to safeguard sustainable reservoir management but also its biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
Contact: Michael Strauch, michael.strauch@ufz.de
