The Roer rises in the High Fens in Belgium at about NAP +660m. Via Germany, the water flows northwards. Near Roermond, the river empties into the Meuse. The Roer is about 165 kilometres long and has a catchment area of 2340 km2. The upstream catchment of the Roer is located in the Ardennes and the Eifel. Here, the land use consists mainly of forests and grassland and has poorly permeable soils and rocks in which little water can be stored.
To retain water, seven reservoirs were built here in the past to provide drinking water. These reservoirs are managed by the Wasserverband Eifel-Rur (Eifel-Rur Water Association). Apart for drinking water supply they have also the purpose of reducing the risk of flooding. The northern, downstream, part of the basin is less high, has more gentle slopes and the land use is dominated by agriculture and urban areas (Düren, Aachen, Jülich and Roermond). The soils in this northern part are much more permeable and more precipitation is stored here in groundwater.
2.350
Square kilometers
650m
Height difference
15 %
Urban area
650.000
Buildings
Upcoming research:
For this river basin, a joint transnational stresstest is under development. With a stresstest, we try to investigate the resilience of the water systems for extreme weather conditions and identify which measures may be considered to become better prepared for these extreme floods (more info). Planned research further focus on quantification of effects of potential measures and operation of reservoirs under future change (more info).
Publications in this basin
Watersystemanalysis Limburg 2021 (Dutch)
