Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System

The Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System (German: Unterharzer Teich- und Grabensystem), which forms the major part of these old water management facilities, lies in the central Lower Harz, almost entirely within the borough of the present-day town of Harzgerode.

The river catchment areas affected are primarily the source regions and upper reaches of small mountain streams.

All elements of the mine water management system, regardless of condition, were placed under conservation orders in 1991 as a heritage area (Flächendenkmal).

By the second half of the 16th century the ore deposits near the surface were exhausted and mining largely ground to a standstill.

In 1701, Georg Christoff von Utterodt, who came from Ilmenau, took over the post of Chief Mining Officer (Berghauptmann) for Straßberg.

Under his direction the two largest ponds in the Lower Harz were laid out which, together, held about 800,000 m³: Glasebacher Teich (1716) and Frankenteich (1724).

Due to resistance by the Stolberg villagers this was initially built without comital authority and, from 1726 to 1736, completed as far as the Ludenrösche (link section to the Schindelbrücher Kunstgraben).

He finished working in 1755, coinciding with the end of the most important operating period for silver mining in Straßberg.

That spelled the end of the Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System after more than 300 years of operation.

The Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System was placed under conservation status in 1991 as a heritage area.

At the same time considerable areas were destroyed as a result of ignorance by the authorities and the drastic action of the privatised forestry industry in Saxony-Anhalt.