Analysis of Available Retention Volume in Extinct Ponds – Case Study for Blanice River Catchment

Abstract

The risk of increasing frequency and duration of dry periods has become much more discussed topic with respect to expected climate change. This can result in water scarcity for different purposes. Besides others, agriculture and river ecosystems can be mentioned as those which can suffer from droughts. The retention of the landscape is therefore still more accented. Increase of landscape retention capacity is considered as a good way to keep water in the landscape which can be then available during dry periods. Despite the most retention capacity consists in the soil, the volume of small water reservoirs must be considered as important in conditions of the Czech Republic. This results in increased demand for building new small water reservoirs spread in the landscape. However, there is a lack of suitable profiles for that due to relatively high population density in the Czech Republic. The restoration of extinct ponds is considered therefore as a good option for this purpose. The paper presents the results of GIS analysis of the volume of water which would be available in case of the restoration of extinct ponds in the catchment of the river Blanice (543 km 2 ). For this purpose, detail elevation data were used to avoid unacceptable error in volume estimates due to the sizes of considered areas. The results of analyses show that there is considerable retention volume available which could be used either to improve hydrologic conditions in stream network or for agricultural use consisting mainly in irrigations. Additionally, the results were compared to discharge data for three profiles on main major stream channels. In general, the results show how the building of new small water reservoirs can be used to mitigate droughts.

Discovering extinct water bodies in the landscape of Central Europe using toponymic GIS

“…The Central European region is widely discussed with respect to the theme of unsatisfactory landscape water regimes, among others in connection with coping with increasing periods of droughts (Štěpánek et al, 2016). The restoration of small water reservoirs as one of the most valuable natural elements of the cultural landscape (Waldon, 2012) may provide a possible solution (David and Davidová, 2015;Rozkošný et al, 2014). The results of the research of Trantinová (2015), surveying the representatives of more than 100 municipalities in the Czech Republic, show that almost 30% of mayors believe (in relation to a better water retention in the landscape) that investments should go to the maintenance of the existing fishponds or restoration of the extinct ones.…”

“…Those that survive can play an important part in ecology (Jeffries, 1991) and hydrology (Smith et al, 2002), as well as in cultural terms (Rees, 1997). The restoration of some extinct fishponds, which could help maintain water in the agricultural landscape (David and Davidová, 2015), is being discussed in relation to increasing anthropogenic pressures on the landscape and their negative impact on its ecology and water capacity (Bastian et al, 2006;Šantrůčková et al, 2017), together with the changing climate and the increased probability of extreme hydrological phenomena (droughts) (Zahradníček et al, 2015).…”

Historical ponds of the Czech Republic: an example of the interpretation of historic maps

“…The completed map may be applied in practice. The spatial information on the extinct ponds, their locations, current use or the historical existence of dams on such ponds may result in projects of their reconstructions (David & Davidová, 2015). The resultant geodata, with the exception of the overall maps of extinct ponds of the Czech Republic, were made freely accessible through the Web Map browser within the Hydroecological information System (HEIS) which is managed by T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute (see http:// heis.vuv.cz/data/webmap/isapi.dll?map=mp_historickery bniky).…”

The importance of historical maps for man-made pond research: From the past extent of ponds to issues of the present landscape. A case study from the Czech Republic

“…For the abovestated hydrological and ecological functions of man-made ponds, a gradual revitalisation and renewal of ponds with the support of the state or European subsidy programs is presently underway (Chabudziński et al, 2017;Rozkošný et al, 2020). Historical maps can play an important role in preparing the ground for pond restoration (David and Davidová, 2015).…”