Über den Staudamm Wloclawek

The Włocławek reservoir on the Vistula river in Kuyavian-Pomeranian province is one of Poland's largest water bodies, holding 453.6 million cubic metres. Completed in 1970, the low 14-metre run-of-river weir dam stretches 680 metres across the Vistula at the town of Włocławek, creating a 75-kilometre-long reservoir upstream. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric generation: the eight Kaplan turbines produce up to 162 megawatts, making it Poland's largest operational hydropower station. The reservoir also provides navigation conditions on the upper Vistula and regulates downstream water flows. However, the dam has been ecologically controversial for decades because it blocks the migration of European sea trout and vimba bream, and has altered the sediment dynamics of the lower Vistula, contributing to riverbed erosion downstream. A planned second dam at Siarzewo downstream has been debated since the 1980s to address the hydraulic imbalance created by Włocławek but faces significant environmental opposition. The reservoir's shores are lined with willows and riverine forest habitats that support cormorant colonies, grey heron, and wintering populations of goldeneye and pochard. Urban recreation areas including marinas and beaches serve the Włocławek and Płock populations.