Staustufen

Staustufen are hydraulic engineering facilities on navigable rivers that combine a barrage or weir with one or more navigation locks to maintain a suitable water level and enable vessel passage across changes in river height. They are designed to ensure a stable, navigable depth along long river sections while also allowing controlled water discharge for flood protection and river management.

A Staustufe typically comprises a barrage or weir that regulates upstream and downstream water levels, one or more lock chambers with gates, and supporting channels, basins, and control systems. The lock chambers provide a controlled environment where water can be added to or drained from to match the level on the destination side, allowing ships to move between river reaches with different elevations. Gate arrangements, such as mitre or blade gates, isolate the lock from the surrounding water and enable safe operation. In some installations, additional facilities like forebays, spillways, or even small power units may be associated with the structure.

Operation involves approaching the lock, entering the chamber, sealing the gates, adjusting the water level to the target side, and then exiting the chamber into the next reach. The process is coordinated with other locks and control centers to maintain smooth traffic flow and river stability.

Staustufen play a key role in inland navigation, flood management, and, in some cases, hydroelectric generation within integrated river systems. They are particularly common in German-speaking regions and other parts of central Europe, where they support commercial traffic on major rivers by compensating for natural elevation differences along the waterway.