It was built in 1697 near Harzgerode and Quedlinburg (in the present state of Saxony-Anhalt) for mining purposes.

The Kochsgraben was extended for the last time and it now ended in the catchment area of the Teufelsteich, the Siebengrund bottom.

This extension was called the Siebengründer Graben; at the same time the section to Neudorf was drained dry.

The Teufelsteich was now supplied with water from the Lude stream and the Rödelbachgraben along with the nearby mining ponds of the Fürstenteich and the Silberhütter Pochwerksteich.

The new, higher dam consists of a shale body with a clay core in the centre.