Articles | Volume 29, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2785-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2785-2025
Research article
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03 Jul 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 03 Jul 2025

Is drought protection possible without compromising flood protection? Estimating the potential dual-use benefit of small flood reservoirs in southern Germany

Sarah Quỳnh-Giang Ho and Uwe Ehret

Data sets

Reservoir data Sarah Ho https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12724797

Model code and software

Reservoir operation models Sarah Ho https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12724797

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Executive editor
This study addresses the highly relevant issue of dam operation around the central question if dam operation can help to alleviate both floods and droughts, and under what conditions. This study of dams in Germany is highly relevant to water management in a climate with increasing frequency and magnitude of weather extremes.
Short summary
In this paper, we use models to demonstrate that even small flood reservoirs – which capture water to avoid floods downstream – can be repurposed to release water in drier conditions without affecting their ability to protect against floods. By capturing water and releasing it once levels are low, we show that reservoirs can greatly increase the water available in drought. Having more water available to the reservoir, however, is not necessarily better for drought protection.
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