water retention

Retention potential of beaver dams for surface water storage in the Czech landscape

Ing. Adam Babuljak, Ing. Miroslav Bauer, Ph.D., Ing. Martin Dočkal, Ph.D., Ing. Petr Koudelka, Ph.D., RNDr. Jitka Uhlíková, Ph.D., Ing. Jan Mokrý, Ing. Aleš Vorel, Ph.D. and prof. Dr. Ing. Tomáš Dostál – 5/2026

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is an important ecosystem engineer that alters the hydrological regime of the landscape through its activities. The aim of this study was to quantify the volume of surface water retained by beaver dams in the Czech landscape and to estimate the potential retention capacity of a selected catchment assuming the maximum predicted extent of beaver colonisation. The main focus of the research was to determine the volume of surface water accumulated behind 150 beaver dams at sites in the Plzeň Region (the Křemelná catchment and ten other selected wetlands) and the inundated area of the associated beaver ponds. GIS analyses based on a combination of precise geodetic data and a digital terrain model were used for the calculations.

Agroforestry and its effect on the complex of hydropedological properties of the soil

Ing. Věra Horáková, prof. Ing. Miroslav Dumbrovský, CSc., Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D. and Ing. Ivana Kameníčková, Ph.D. – 2/2023

The aim of this article is to evaluate landscape retention capacity based on the use of soil protection technology at the chosen site and to compare selected hydropedological characteristics in the context of land management. Therefore, broken and intact soil samples are taken regularly and laboratory analyses are carried out. The chosen site is located in the Šardice cadastral area, Hodonín district, South Moravian region. At the chosen site it is possible to consider grass strips with one or more rows of trees as a possible agroforestry system, where temperature and humidity are measured continuously by TOMST TMS-4 moisture sensors. The results show that the way land is used and cultivated has an impact on hydropedological properties of the land. We can influence them both positively and negatively.

Catalogue of green water retention measures in the landscape and its application in the web map application

Ing. Miriam Dzuráková, Mgr. Pavla Štěpánková, Ph.D. and Ing. Viktor Levitus – 5/2018

A catalogue of green water retention measures in landscape represents one of the results of long term project financed by the Ministry of Environment. The main goal of the catalogue was to summarize a set of measures with positive effects on water retention of landscape, with low impact on ecological status of water bodies.

Potential of the nature-friendly measures application for water retention in the landscape and improvement of the ecological status of water bodies

Ing. Miriam Dzuráková, Ing. Kamila Zárubová, Ing. Jana Uhrová, Ph.D., Ing. Miloš Rozkošný, Ph.D., Ing. Lukáš Smelík, Ph.D., RNDr. Denisa Němejcová, doc. RNDr. Světlana Zahrádková, Ph.D., Mgr. Pavla Štěpánková, Ph.D. and Dr. Ing. Jaromír Macků – 4/2017

An analysis and assessment of the nature-friendly measures potential for water retention in the landscape were carried out as a part of the work on the concept of protection against drought impacts in the Czech Republic.