Lower Racibórz

The flood control complex in the Silesian Voivodeship, encompassing the Racibórz and Wodzisław counties, plays a key role in flood protection. The Racibórz Dolny Reservoir, located in the municipalities of Lubomia, Gorzyce, Krzyżanowice, and Kornowac, is a retention reservoir with an area of 26.3 km² and an initial capacity of 185 million m³ of water. In Phase III, planned after the extraction of gravel deposits, its capacity will increase to 320 million m³. The construction of the reservoir, which began in 2013, was a response to the Millennium Flood of 1997, which caused enormous material and human losses. As part of the project, two villages—Nieboczowy and Ligota Tworkowska—were liquidated, resulting in the relocation of nearly 700 people. The reservoir was opened on June 30, 2020, and its structure, with 22 km of embankments and advanced hydraulic engineering structures, makes it the largest facility of its kind in Poland. Once transformed into a permanent reservoir (wet reservoir), it will gain new functions, such as supporting navigation and preventing drought. The history of this region dates back to 1883 when the first concept for building a reservoir emerged. However, complex processes of Oder River regulation and border changes after World War II long delayed the implementation of the investment. The reservoir not only serves flood control functions but may also become an attractive recreational area, enriching its cultural and architectural value.