Zielpegel

Zielpegel is a term used in hydrology and water management to denote the target water level for a water body, reservoir, or hydraulic structure that operators aim to maintain under certain conditions. The target level is usually expressed as a height above a reference datum such as NHN (Normalhöhennull) or another local standard.

In practice, the Zielpegel serves as a planning and control parameter for releases, pumping, and other operational decisions. It helps coordinate flood protection, water supply, hydropower production, and ecological requirements. Because inflows, weather conditions, and reservoir storage change over time, the Zielpegel is not fixed; different scenarios may specify different target levels, for example for normal operation, drought, or flood events.

Operations centers monitor actual gauge heights (Pegel) and compare them with the Zielpegel, triggering actions when deviations exceed predefined thresholds. The concept is closely related to Sollwert (setpoint) and to the use of Pegel readings in flood forecasting and river management.

Examples in practice include published Zielpegel values for seasonal planning or for specific weather regimes at dams or reservoirs. The Zielpegel is typically given in meters above NHN or another relevant datum, allowing operators to translate the target into actionable releases or storage adjustments.

See also: Pegel, Pegelstand, Hochwasservorhersage, Reservoirbetrieb, Hydrologie.