VTEI / hydrological drought

hydrological drought

Methodology for adaptive management of water reservoirs during hydrological drought

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This article presents a methodology for the adaptive management of water reservoirs designed to ensure a reliable water supply under condi-tions of hydrological drought and climate change. The proposed approach combines hydrological modelling, climate change scenarios, and the optimisation of rule curves with regulation levels. The management system allows for flexible restrictions on water abstractions and the adjustment of minimum residual flows depending on the current state of the reservoir. A pilot application of the methodology was carried out on selected Czech reservoirs (Švihov, Klíčava, Žlutice, Obecnice, Pilská, Láz, Vrchlice) under current climate conditions and future scenarios for 2050 and 2100.

Drought warning system and local threshold limits

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Droughts and floods are extreme hydrological phenomena that are currently increasing in frequency due to the growing impact of climate change, and can have significant effects on our lives. Within the “PERUN” research project, an assessment of drought conditions and their development in the Czech Republic is being developed, along with the innovation of the warning system by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI). Drought is a natural phenomenon characterized by a gradual onset, long duration, and low dynamics, which requires a specific approach. The amendment to the Water Act introduces the obligation of regular reporting on drought and the establishment of a predictive service to be conducted by CHMI. Tools are being developed for long-term prediction of water resource conditions and a methodology for drought and water scarcity management plans. These plans aim to ensure water supply, protect the environment, and minimize the economic impacts. The decision-making body for issuing measures based on the drought plans is the Drought Commission, which operates at the regional level. The warning information is available on the HAMR web portal, which also displays local threshold limits for individual water resources.

Drought in the Upper Metuje Basin in 2014–2019

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In the years 2014–2019, there was a historic drought in the Czech Republic. The Department of Hydrology and Hydrogeology of the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute has been carrying out long-term hydrological and hydrogeological observations in the upper Metuje basin where this drought manifested itself significantly. The upper part of the catchment area of the Metuje River is located in the Police Cretaceous basin geological formation.