Kemnade Reservoir

Kemnade Reservoir
Name	Kemnade Reservoir
Type	Reservoir
Inflow	Ruhr, Baldeneysee
Outflow	Ruhr
Basin countries	Germany

Kemnade Reservoir is a man-made impoundment on the Ruhr created to regulate flow, provide flood control, and support water supply, energy production, and recreation in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The reservoir sits within the industrial and cultural landscape shaped by cities such as Bochum, Essen, Herne, and Witten, and plays a role in regional water management tied to institutions like the Ruhrverband and policy frameworks originating from the Prussian state water regulators and later Federal Republic of Germany agencies. Its proximity to landmarks such as Harkortsee, Baldeneysee, and the Sauerland uplands anchors it within networks of waterways, reservoirs, and heritage sites including the Zeche Zollverein industrial complex and the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.

Overview

The reservoir occupies a strategic position on the Ruhr between upstream retention basins and downstream urban abstractions, interacting with infrastructure managed by the Ruhrverband, the District of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, and municipal authorities of Wetter (Ruhr), Herdecke, and Hattingen. It serves multiple purposes—flood attenuation for the Emscher and Ruhr corridors, raw water storage for utilities like Stadtwerke Essen and Berger Feld supply systems, and regulated discharge for hydroelectric turbines tied to operators such as RWE and regional grid managers. The reservoir’s catchment includes tributaries draining from the Sauerland and parts of the Bergisches Land, linking it to riverine networks influenced by historical mining watersheds exemplified by sites like Zollverein and ongoing remediation projects by the Stiftung Industriekultur.

History and Development

Planning for impoundments on the Ruhr dates to the late 19th and early 20th centuries amid industrial expansion in the Ruhr area and public works programs by the Prussian Ministry of Public Works. Major construction phases involved contractors and engineers associated with firms like Hochtief and municipal planners influenced by flood events documented in archives of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. Post-war reconstruction and the energy demands of companies such as Thyssen and Krupp accelerated investment, while environmental legislation stemming from the Federal Immission Control Act and directives influenced by the European Union shifted priorities toward multi-use reservoirs. Renovations and modernization occurred in concert with initiatives connected to the 1992 Earth Summit-era environmental policies and regional restoration programs led by the Länder administrations and the European Regional Development Fund.

Hydrology and Water Management

Hydrological operation integrates real-time monitoring by agencies like the Ruhrverband and forecasting centers coordinated with the Deutscher Wetterdienst and the German Federal Institute of Hydrology for flood forecasting on the Ruhr basin. The reservoir modulates seasonal flows to protect downstream infrastructures in Essen and Dortmund and supports abstractions for municipal suppliers including Ruhrverband member utilities. Water quality management follows parameters set by the European Union Water Framework Directive and national laws administered by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry for Environment and executed by laboratories affiliated with universities such as Ruhr University Bochum and University of Duisburg-Essen. Sediment management, nutrient loading control, and coordinated releases are planned with hydropower dispatch from operators like RWE and grid compliance under European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity standards.

Ecology and Wildlife

The reservoir and its riparian zones provide habitat for species recorded by conservation groups such as NABU and governmental agencies like the Bundesamt für Naturschutz. Aquatic communities include fish species typical of Central European reservoirs, monitored in studies by faculties at University of Cologne and University of Münster; birdlife attracts ornithologists linked to the LWL Museum für Naturkunde and local chapters of BirdLife International. Riparian vegetation corridors connect to regional nature reserves administered by the Regionalverband Ruhr and form part of biotope networks promoted by the EU Natura 2000 framework. Conservation measures address invasive species, water bird protection during migration seasons observed alongside routes linking to the Wadden Sea flyway, and habitat enhancement projects supported by the German Federal Environment Ministry.

Recreation and Facilities

Local recreation is organized by municipal service providers such as the Stadt Herdecke parks department and volunteer clubs like Segel-Club Wetter and rowing clubs affiliated with the Deutscher Ruderverband. Facilities include boat launching areas, trails maintained by the Regionalverband Ruhr, angling sites regulated under rules enforced by the Landesfischereiverband Nordrhein-Westfalen, and picnic and observation points near historic sites like the Schloss Harkorten vicinity. Events tie into cultural calendars of cities including Witten and Bochum, featuring regattas, environmental education programs with partners such as the WWF Germany and Greenpeace Germany, and tourism promotion by regional bodies including Ruhr Tourismus.

Infrastructure and Engineering

Structural elements were designed and constructed with input from engineering firms and research institutions such as Technische Universität Dortmund, employing reinforced concrete technologies and hydromechanical gate systems supplied by firms comparable to Voith and Andritz. The reservoir integrates with downstream hydroelectric facilities, fish passage solutions, and automated monitoring systems linked to municipal SCADA networks operated by utilities like Stadtwerke Bochum. Upgrades have followed standards set by the Deutscher Ingenieurkammer and incorporate measures for seismic resilience, corrosion protection, and automated sluice control compatible with grid services provided via connections to transmission operators like 50Hertz and TenneT.

Access and Transportation

Access is provided by regional roads connecting to the A43 and B226 corridors, public transit links via the VRR (transport association) network, and cycling routes forming part of the RuhrtalRadweg and long-distance trails administered by the German Alpine Club regional sections. Parking, visitor information, and transit hubs coordinate with municipal planning offices in Hattingen and Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, while river traffic is regulated under navigation rules enforced by the Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes. Emergency and rescue services operate with coordination between the Feuerwehr units of nearby towns and regional medical centers such as St. Josef Hospital Bochum.

Category:Reservoirs in North Rhine-Westphalia Category:Ruhr basin