The German Small Lake and Pond Inventory

Abstract

Small lakes and ponds are hotspots of biodiversity, biogeochemical reactions, and hydrological inter actions in the landscape. While mostly providing the same functions as larger lakes, they often do so at higher rates per unit area. Exponentially more abundant than larger lakes, small lakes, and ponds contribute signifi cantly to biodiversity, nutrient retention, and the water budget, even at large spatial scales. However, they are rarely considered in regional or larger-scale environmental studies, partly due to a lack of data. To alleviate this, we developed the German Small Lake and Pond Inventory (GSLPI), a comprehensive database of over 260 000 small lakes and ponds ranging in size from 10 to 500 000 m2 (50 ha or 0.5 km2 ). Using only openly available data from Germany’s federal states, we provide information on lake or pond location, shape, depth, volume, and connectivity. With this database, we aim to facilitate the integration of small lakes and ponds into environmental research and enhance understanding of their roles within changing landscapes. © Author(s) 2026