This study identifies and analyses ecosystem services (ES) in the context of their applicability for drought and flood prevention measures undertaken within the framework of small water retention. The results illustrate that ES classified as regulation and maintenance are the most significant because they, one the one hand, contribute the most to improving the flood retention capacity of river catchment areas, whilst on the other hand they provide desirable values that people derive from nature. Furthermore, we also find that the small retention reservoir is a solution which assures both the best weather hazard prevention as well as the greatest number of benefits.