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OPTAIN : Schwarzer Schöps [Germany]

Last update
2025
The Schwarzer Schöps case study is located in the East of Germany. The catchment area is about 137 km2, most of which is used as cropland (48%), forest (25%) and grassland (15%). The area is facing an increase in 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.
51.226066
14.792066
Project
OPTAIN
National Id
DE_07
Installation date
Year- Unknown
Implementation Status
Modeled
Contact
Michael Strauch- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

Location of the project
The Schwarzer Schöps case study is located in the East of Germany.
Saxony/Oberlausitz/Reichenbach OL
NUTS Code
DED5 - Dresden
Sponge Measure(s) implemented in the case study
Buffer strips and hedges
Filter Strips
Cover crops
Ponds
Involved Partners
Authority type Authority name Role Comments

Climate

Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Annual Averages:
Precipitation
746
Temperature
9.3 °C
Evapotranspiration
585 mm/year
Runoff
161

Geography

Slope range
2 - 10%
Soil type
Luvisols
Stagnosol
Groundwater level
0.4 - 6.7 m
Vegetation class
All potential NSWRM are implemented on cropland. In the model, the vegetation cover changes depending on the type of NSWRM. It changes to permant grassland in case of grassed riparian buffer and grassed waterways, it changes to grass/shrubs/deciduous trees in case of hedges, while for low tillage combined with cover crops there is only a change in crop and soil management (the status quo crop rotation remains the same, but also includes cover crops before corn, spring barley and sugar beet). In case a pond is implemented, arable land changes to a pond. Note: The NSWRM implementation is only simulated.

Water quality

Water bodies: Ecological Status
Schwarzer Schöps: Moderate Reichenbacher Wasser: Poor
Water bodies: Chemical Status
Schwarzer Schöps: Poor Reichenbacher Wasser: Poor
Site Information Summary

There are 302 potential sites considered for implementing NSWRM in this case study. All are on arable land. Slope and soils vary across the potential sites of the NSWRMs.

Scale of the project

Project scale
Meso
Project scale specification
Effectiveness of NSWRM for a small river basin
Lifespan
unknown

Size of the project

Project area
136 km²
Area specifications
rural area
Design land use change
Land use change type Comment
Other

There are 5 different types of potential (modelled) NSWRM in CS1. All are on arable land. In the model, the vegetation cover changes depending on the type of NSWRM. It changes to permant grassland in case of grassed riparian buffer and grassed waterways, it changes to grass/shrubs/deciduous trees in case of hedges, while for low tillage combined with cover crops there is only a change in crop and soil management (the status quo crop rotation remains the same, but also includes cover crops before corn, spring barley and sugar beet). In case a pond is implemented, arable land changes to a pond.

Total cost
The potential costs vary across all the different types of NSWRM and their individual locations.
Financing authorities
Authority name Type of funding Financing share Comments

Policy and general governance summary

All NSWRM modelled in this case studies are addressing different policies from regional to EU level, mainly in the field of water management, agriculture, and nature conservation. Nevertheless, only the 'greening' measure (e.g. grassed riparian buffers and grassed waterways) are currently (year 2025) supported with subsidies by CAP and regional agricultural policies.

Policy context
The river basin has faced increasing numbers of climatic events such as floods and droughts as well as increased soil erosion. This has impacted the quantity and quality of the Quitzdorf reservoir, located at basin outlet. The reservoir is a key water resource for the region and notably Berlin. It is used as a service water supply, for downstream flood protection, to increase downstream flow, as well as for recreation and nature protection. Pollution of the reservoir has resulted in strong eutrophication, blue-green algae blooms, and the poor ecological status of the water body.
The project will be implemented with a variety of stakeholders including: Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, the State Reservoir Administration of Saxony, the Saxon Farmers’ Association, as well as local farmers and stakeholders implicated in landscape management and conservation.
Land ownership
There are 302 potential sites considered for implementing NSWRM in this case study. All are on arable land. Details on the land ownership vary across the potential sites of the NSWRMs.
Wider plan type
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Agriculture
Common Agricultural Policy
The Common Agricultural Policy provides funding for grassed riparian buffers and grassed waterways under Ecoscheme 1a (“non-productive land”). The establishment of hedges is supported by the Free State of Saxony’s regional policy, the Natural Heritage Funding Guideline, although this program is currently inactive. Other measures receive no support or are funded only under specific conditions.
Policy target
Target purpose
Runoff control
Peak-flow reduction
Pollutants Removal
Erosion Control
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Community involvment
No
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
WFD identified pressure
Requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Nitrate Directive (NiD) 91/676/EEC
Nitrates Directive – 91/676/EEC
The Birds and Habitat Directives
Other EU
Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive – 2009/128/EC
Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC
European Natura 2000 Network
Common Agriculture Policy
Contractual arrangements
0
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Name Comments
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Name Key issues Comments
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Primary
Common Agricultural Policy
Primary
Water Framework Directive
Primary
Water Policy - Floods Directive
Primary
Nitrate Directive
Primary
Environmental Policy
Primary
Climate change adaptation policy

Monitoring and Maintenance Summary

Not applicable (OPTAIN is a modelling study, => no single measure has been implemented)

WFD ecological status obj quantity
Schwarzer Schöps: Moderate Reichenbacher Wasser: Poor

Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments Order
<p>Not applicable (OPTAIN is a modelling study, =&gt; no single measure has been implemented)</p>
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments Order
Legal obligations / restrictions
main barrier
Ponds: Subject to bureaucracy as it requires an administrative approval.
Lacking financing sources
main barrier
Lacking financing sources
main barrier
Hedges to subdivide larger fields: The implementation is very expensive and impractical for farming operations (because a field parcel is split into multiple parts).
Lacking financing sources
secondary barrier
Grassed riparian buffer: No major barriers if the greening is sufficiently subsidised (as it is in the current CAP from 2025).
Other
main barrier
Grassed waterways on erosive slopes: Impractical for farming operations (because a field parcel is split into multiple parts).
Other
Lowtill combined with cover crop: There might be the need for new equipment, beside of that no major barriers.
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments Order
Not applicable (OPTAIN is a modelling study, => no single measure has been implemented)
Overall impact
Hopefully, OPTAIN can stimulate/trigger lots of NSWRM implementations. The feedback from local actors is very promising.
Lessons learned Summary

OPTAIN assessed the potential effects of implementing the NSWRM via process-based, numeric watershed modelling. The simulated effectiveness of the NSWRM on water and nutrient retention indicators varied considerably. Of all the NSWRMs, low tillage combined with cover crops implemented on all cropland was the only one with a significant effect on the water balance. This measure increased average soil moisture by 5–10% and reduced river peak flows at the catchment outlet by 10–15%, compared to the status quo (the current situation assuming no NSWRM are implemented). This measure was also the most effective at reducing soil erosion (by 60–65%) and river P loads (by 15–20%), followed by grassed waterways, which reduced river P loads by 10%. The other measures (grassed riparian buffers, hedges and detention ponds) had a rather localised effect on selected sites within the catchment area.
Although OPTAIN did not implement any NSWRMs, hopefully the project will stimulate the smart, targeted implementation of NSWRMs within the case study area (i.e. the right measures in the right locations).