Marbach Stausee

Germany Lake 1 - Excellent

Marbach-Stausee is a reservoir located in the Odenwald region at 250 metres elevation, surrounded by forests and meadows. Built for flood protection, the lake covers 19 hectares with a maximum depth of 8.2 metres and mean depth of 3 metres. It receives water primarily from the Marbach stream and a secondary inflow from the Meisenbach stream. The lake is divided into zones for different uses: a western nature conservation area, a central bathing area with a 300-metre beach on the southern shore, and an eastern section for sailing and boating.

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Water

Reservoir (Talsperre). Surface area: 19.0 hectares. Maximum depth: 8.2 metres. Mean depth: 3 metres. Main inflow from the Marbach stream and secondary inflow from Meisenbach stream.

Location

The lake is situated 7 kilometres south of Erbach and 9 kilometres south of Michelstadt, approximately 44 kilometres south-east of Darmstadt. Access is via the B460 highway across the dam to parking areas, followed by a 600-metre walking path to the beach. Parking is available at the dam.

Facilities

Toilets and mobile refreshment stand at the bathing beach.

Season

1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026.

Water Quality

Water quality classification: Excellent (Ausgezeichnete Qualität) for 2021–2025. Trophic classification: Eutroph 2. Monitoring shows enterococci and Escherichia coli levels typically below or at low thresholds. Potential pollution sources include wastewater, stormwater, or combined sewer discharges, which cannot be excluded. High nutrient content in the water can lead to algal and cyanobacterial blooms during summer months, particularly towards the end of the bathing season. Cyanobacterial blooms of medium frequency and medium-high future risk have been observed.

Risks

Cyanobacterial blooms (blue-green algae) occur regularly during summer and can reach critical concentrations towards the end of the bathing season. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins causing allergic reactions and skin irritation in swimmers. Potential discharges from wastewater, stormwater, or combined sewers cannot be ruled out.