A comparison of four approaches to river landscape delineation: The case of small watercourses in the Czech Republic

Abstract

River landscapes represent key areas of great importance to human society as they perform many functions and provide valuable services. Traditionally, these areas have been perceived as geomorphological phenomena characterised by specific soil conditions, hydrological regimes and unique habitats. Due to the availability of detailed data, it is possible to perform a spatial delineation of river landscapes by interpreting these data using several different approaches. The results of these different approaches can vary considerably, since it is particularly challenging to define the river landscape along small watercourses for which the availability of suitable data is limited. The main aim of this study is to analyse the various methodological approaches that may be used to define the river landscapes of small streams, and to evaluate the efficiency of those approaches that can be applied in nature and landscape conservation. Two medium-sized catchments in the Czech Republic were selected as the study areas in order to ensure different natural conditions and degrees of anthropogenic pressure. As a result, an approach based on combining soil characteristics and topographic information is considered the most appropriate solution to delineate the river ecosystem.

Managing floodplains using nature‐based solutions to support multiple ecosystem functions and services

“…Derived from the definition of a floodplain as an area along a watercourse formed by alluvial sediments deposited during floods, gathering information on the soil properties or spatial extent of the inundation area is the most relevant approach. A necessary prerequisite for this approach is data available at a relatively detailed scale (spatial resolution) and comparable across larger territorial units or countries (Jakubínský et al, 2020). Using soil data, a floodplain is usually defined based on the spatial distribution of hydromorphic soils, characterized by the temporary or permanent wetting of soil pores.…”

Linking Hydromorphological Degradation with Environmental Status of Riparian Ecosystems: A Case Study in the Stropnice River Basin, Czech Republic

“…For the purpose of floodplain delineation within forested areas, forest typological maps (1:10,000) were used; these maps also show the basic soil and moisture conditions of the studied sites. Possibilities of spatial delineations of floodplains and ecosystems of river landscapes in the conditions of the Czech Republic, with particular regard to small watercourses, are outlined in more detail by Jakubínský et al [39].…”