drought | VTEI

Groundwater abstraction noticeably reduces the flow of some watercourses during the dry season

Ing. Martina Peláková and Mgr. Pavel Eckhardt – 5/2024

The paper highlights the fact that some significant watercourses dry up during periods of minimal flows due to groundwater abstraction. It provides a summary of the most affected significant watercourses in the Czech Republic. Large concentrated groundwater abstraction has a considerable impact on small and medium-sized watercourses. To select the most significant effects of abstraction on stream flows, we used the ratio of abstraction to 355-day flows from 1931–1960. Watercourses exceeding 30 % were selected. In half of the selected cases the following relationship was confirmed: the 355-day flow from 1931–1960, reduced by the abstraction rate, is approximately equal to the 355-day flow from 1991–2020. The cases where this relationship does not apply can be explained by changes in abstraction volumes, declining groundwater levels and flows in the wider area due to groundwater collection and the use of static groundwater reserves. The effect of climate change is unlikely to be present in the baseflow in the cases studied. Our analysis identified 13 cases where groundwater abstraction is severely affecting the flow of significant watercourses. In about half of these cases, there is an alternative source of water that should be used when the flow of the watercourse is at a minimum. Another option to protect water resources is to apply the minimum groundwater level or minimum residual flow under the Water Act.

Methodology for creating a Map of the Vulnerability of the Quantity of Natural Groundwater Resources to Drought for the Czech Republic

Doc. RNDr. Jiří Bruthans, Ph.D., Mgr. Jiří Grundloch, RNDr. Renáta Kadlecová, Mgr. Tuna Karatas, Mgr. Kateřina Šabatová and Ing. Radek Vlnas – 5/2024

Groundwater drought affecting groundwater availability is still mostly understood as a subset of hydrological drought. The impact of hydrological drought on groundwater is manifested with a delay and depends on its duration. An expert interactive Map of the Vulnerability of the Quantity of Dynamic Groundwater Resources to Drought for the Czech Republic was created as part of the TA CR project SS01010208 – “Controlled Groundwater Recharge as a Tool to Reduce the Impacts of Drought in the Czech Republic”. The presented vulnerability map is created on the basis of the use of precipitation normal and regression relationships between precipitation and total runoff and groundwater discharge (base flow) using the Base Flow Index (BFI) and ratio of base flow in the driest year of 2010–2019 to the long-term average of base flow (M index), which guarantees uniform processing for the entire Czech Republic at a scale of 1 : 50,000 and an objective comparison of the vulnerability of dynamic groundwater resources to drought throughout the country. It is also based on recorded groundwater abstraction and in the case of municipalities with individual supply, the abstraction is calculated from the number of inhabitants and the national average consumption of drinking water per capita. The Map is compiled based on the balance of dynamic groundwater resources and groundwater abstraction. It contains six categories and shows which regions and areas will struggle to have sufficient groundwater resources during periods of prolonged drought. It synthesizes all available flow logs and other data until 2020 and is designed so that the layers with variable information can be updated in the future.

Drought warning system and local threshold limits

Ing. Adam Vizina, Ph.D., Ing. Petr Pavlík, Ing. Irina Georgievová, Mgr. Martin Pecha, prof. Ing. Martin Hanel, Ph.D., Ing. Martina Peláková, prof. Ing. Mgr. Miroslav Trnka, Ph.D., RNDr. Radek Čekal, Ing. Eva Melišová, Ph.D. and Ing. Radek Vlnas – 5/2023

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.

„Water Centre“

Ing. Vojtěch Moravec, Ing. Petr Sklenář, Ph.D., Ing. Roman Kožín, Ing. Adam Beran, Ph.D., RNDr. Josef V. Datel, Ph.D. and Ing. Anna Hrabánková – 5/2023

The research project of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic SS02030027 „Water systems and water management in the Czech Republic in conditions of climate change“, whose guarantor is the Ministry of the Environment, tries to answer the question of whether we will continue to have enough quality water. Climate change and the associated drought, as well as human behaviour and demands threaten water, and solutions must be sought for the immediate future.

Hydrological balance in selected watersheds of the Czech Republic with focus on drought period 2015–2019

Ing. Radovan Tyl, Ph.D., Ing. Václav David, Ph.D. and Ing. Adam Beran, Ph.D. – 3/2021

The contribution is aimed to the determination and assessment of a hydrological balance at selected watersheds in Czech Republic during the dry period 2015–2019. Hydrological balance was processed in gauging stations of watershed Blatný stream, Lomnice, Skalice, Žehrovka, Javorka, Cidlina, Botič and upper Sázava river using data from Czech hydrometeorological institute. Monthly, long-term monthly and annual values were calculated for precipitation, runoff and evapotranspiration. Results were compared across the selected watersheds and with long-term period 1981–2010. Runoffs from watersheds were compared with gauging average discharge of an entire observation period.

Adaptation of towns and municipalities to floods and drought

Ing. Pavel Balvín, Ing. Veronika Táboříková, Ing. Jiří Procházka, Ph.D., Ing. Jan Hlom and Ing. arch. Ludmila Šnejdová – 2/2021

This article is available in Czech only. For translation or more information on this topic, please contact author. Souhrn Realizace komplexních adaptačních opatření je v posledních letech významným trendem ve všech velkých městech a obcích Evropy. Potřeba přizpůsobení se změně klimatu, vyznačující se střídáním krátkých a intenzivních povodňových epizod [1] a dlouhých období sucha,… Read more »

HAMR: online drought management system – web presentation to the public

Ing. Adam Vizina, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Martin Hanel, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Mgr. Miroslav Trnka, Ph.D. and RNDr. Jan Daňhelka, Ph.D. – 5/2020

Drought and water shortages are concepts that need to be spaced properly differentiate. Drought is a temporary decrease in water availability and is considered a natural phenomenon. Drought is characterized by its gradual onset, considerable area and long duration.

Interview with Ing. Tomáš Urban, Director of TGM WRI, p.r.i.

Redakce – 2/2019

Interview with Ing. Tomáš Urban, Director of the TGM Water Research Institute, p.r.i., on his position as Director of the Water Research Institute, the National Drought Coalition and much more.

Interview with prominent Czech hydrotechnician prof. Ing. Vojtěch Brož, DrSc.

Ing. Pavel Balvín – 6/2018

Interview with prominent Czech hydrotechnician prof. Ing. Vojtěch Brož, DrSc., about his career in the field of water management, his view on contemporary water works and their creation, etc.

HAMR: Online drought management system – operational management during a dry episode

Ing. Adam Vizina, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Martin Hanel, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Mgr. Miroslav Trnka, Ph.D., RNDr. Jan Daňhelka, Ph.D., Bc. Irina Gregorieová, Ing. Petr Pavlík and Ing. Martin Heřmanovský, Ph.D. – 5/2018

Increasing occurrence of drought periods in the Czech Republic has highlighted a necessity of legislation modification. At the same time, a need has emerged for tools supporting decision making and water resources management at various levels during the drought periods.

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.

Draft content of the drought and water scarcity plan in the Czech Republic

Ing. Radek Vlnas – 5/2018

The paper presents the draft of the plan for drought and water scarcity in the Czech Republic. The plan is a basic document of drought protection. It serves to coordinate activities in a given area during drought and water shortages.

What is the current state of drought in the Czech Republic and is a reason to worry?

Redakce – 5/2018

These and other questions were answered by experts who come into contact with drought and water shortages daily.

Seminar Dry Period 2014–2017: Evaluation, impacts and measures

RNDr. Jan Daňhelka, Ph.D. – 5/2018

On the 30th of May, the Dry Period 2014–2017 seminar took place at the Novotného lávka in Prague: evaluations, impacts and measures organized by the Czech Scientific and Technical Water Management Company in cooperation with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute and the TGM Water Research Institute.

Water Balance – expression of the amount of water in landscape

RNDr. Ing. Jaroslav Rožnovský, CSc., RNDr. Filip Chuchma, Ing. Rostislav Fiala and RNDr. Mojmír Kohut, Ph.D. – 3/2018

Course of the weather in the last years shows that variability of the weather increases and this also leads to a higher frequency of floods, as well as drought. Drought, regardless of its type, means that there is a lack of water in landscape.

Hydrological balance and available water resource in the czech republic during hydrological drought

Ing. Adam Vizina, Ph.D., Ing. Radek Vlnas, prof. Ing. Martin Hanel, Ph.D., Ing. Ladislav Kašpárek, CSc., Ing. Eva Melišová, Ph.D., Ing. Adam Beran, Ph.D., Ing. Roman Kožín and Ing. Filip Strnad – 4/2017

The article deals with the assessment of the hydrological balance in a monthly time step in the territory of the Czech Republic, which was divided into 133 sub-basins for the period 1981–2015.

Regionalization of deficit runoff volumes in the Czech Republic

Ing. Filip Strnad, Ing. Vojtěch Moravec, prof. Ing. Martin Hanel, Ph.D., Ing. Adam Vizina, Ph.D., Ing. Adam Beran, Ph.D., Ing. Eva Melišová, Ph.D. and Ing. Roman Kožín – 4/2017

The aim of the study is the regionalization of the Czech Republic with respect to drought characteristics in individual catchments.

Impact of drought and water scarcity on water use assessment

Ing. Petr Vyskoč, RNDr. Hana Prchalová and Ing. Jiří Dlabal – 4/2017

Exist tools for water balance, time series of water abstractions and their season variability, difference between permitted and real abstractions and impact of drought in 2015 were analysed and assessed in subtask Impact of Drought on Water Use Assessment.

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.

Policy of Protection from impacts of drought and water scarcity in the Czech Republic – consultation and processing

RNDr. Tomáš Hrdinka, Ph.D., Ing. Magdalena Nesládková, Ing. Tereza Davidová, Ph.D. and RNDr. Pavel Punčochář, CSc. – 4/2017

In the context of a severe drought period, which has started in 2014, an inter-ministerial commission WATER-DROUGHT was established to prepare a strategic policy document on protection from impacts of drought and water scarcity in the Czech Republic.

Evaluation of the impacts of drought on aquatic and water-bound organisms in surface water bodies

Ing. Martin Durčák, Mgr. Michal Straka, Ph.D., doc. RNDr. Světlana Zahrádková, Ph.D., Mgr. Marek Polášek, RNDr. Denisa Němejcová, Ing. Petr Tušil, Ph.D., MBA and Ing. Jiří Šajer – 4/2017

Within the framework of the sub-task “Evaluation of the impacts of drought on aquatic and water-bound organisms in surface water bodies“ a project involving activities to support the state administration in the drought issue in 2016 was prepared mainly a review of the potential impacts of drought on individual elements and indicators of water status assessment.

Water transfers as a measure for dealing with drought and water scarcity

Ing. Magdalena Nesládková and Ing. Jiří Šajer – 4/2017

Currently, new projects of water transfers are discussed as a potential measure for dealing with drought and water scarcity. However, there are some issues related with this measure, which require to be considered.

The drought management plan in the Czech Republic

Ing. Radek Vlnas – 4/2017

The paper presents the preparatory phase of the draft of the drought management plan in the Czech Republic in the commenting process. The plan is a basic document of drought protection.

No wonder that is drought

doc. RNDr. Jan Pokorný, CSc. – 4/2017

Historic civilizations have dried up, archaeologists find them under sand deposits. The oldest great civilization was in Mesopotamia on the territory of present-day Syria between the Euphrates and Tygris.

Interview with Ing. Daniel Pokorný Director of the Department of State Administration of Water Management and River Basin Management at the Ministry of Agriculture

Ing. Libor Ansorge, Ph.D. – /2017

Interview with Ing. Daniel Pokorný Director of the State Administration of Water Management and River Basin Management at the Ministry of Agriculture on the topic of surface water and flood protection hydraulic structures.

Interview with a head of the Department of Irrigation and Landscape Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering doc. Dr. Ing. Tomáš Dostál

Redakce – 1/2017

Interview with a head of the Department of Irrigation and Landscape Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering doc. Dr. Ing. By Tomáš Dostál on the topic of universities and recruitment of students, floods and droughts.

Actual problems of small water reservoirs

Ing. Jiří Poláček – 1/2017

The workshop on the issue of small reservoirs was held at the headquarters ČVTVHS in the convention hall no. 217, Club technicians, Novotného lávka 5, Prague 1, on 27 September 2016.

Interview with Minister of Agriculture Ing. Marian Jurečka

Redakce – 4/2016

Interview with Minister of Agriculture Ing. Marian Jurečka on the topic of drought and water management planning.

Floods and drought in flooded villages in southern Moravia, how the chronicles, photos and stories captured them

Ing. Miriam Dzuráková, Ing. Lukáš Smelík, Ph.D. and RNDr. Hana Mlejnková, Ph.D. – 4/2016

In the period 2013-2016 was solved the project program NAKI Ministry of Culture called “Flooded cultural and natural heritage of South Moravia” by the team of experts from various fields that straddle the TGM WRI, p. r. i.

Periodic droughts in streams: the next negative factor influencing crayfish populations

RNDr. Jitka Svobodová, Mgr. David Fischer, Eva Svobodová and RNDr. Pavel Vlach, Ph.D. – 3/2016

Periodic droughts in small streams are caused by climate changes but also by the inappropriate management of precipitation and surface water. If these factors act simultaneously, water level rapidly declines even up to the complete drying up of long sections of the stream.

Risk assessment of drying up of small streams in the Czech Republic

doc. RNDr. Světlana Zahrádková, Ph.D., Mgr. Ondřej Hájek, Mgr. Pavel Treml, RNDr. Petr Pařil, Ph.D., Mgr. Michal Straka, Ph.D., RNDr. Denisa Němejcová, Mgr. Marek Polášek and Mgr. Pavel Ondráček, Ph.D. – 6/2015

A categorization of the Czech Republic territory in terms of the risk of drying up of small streams (1st to 4th order by Strahler) was proposed. Three levels of risk (low, medium and high) for basic hydrological units (catchment) were set. The risk levels were defined using selected abiotic characteristics of the hydrological units and their combinations.

Drought management and water reservoirs construction in the context of spatial planning

Ing. Milena Forejtníková, Mgr. Jana Ošlejšková and Tomáš Morávek – 6/2015

In the Czech Republic long-term protection of localities suitable for surface water storage (LASW) is done. Currently the number of them is 65; in the near future this list will be updated. The protection of these areas, however, has impacts on social and economic development of communities, local people and on the landscape itself, too.

Interview with the Minister of the Environment Mgr. Richard Brabec on the topic of drought

Redakce – 4–5/2015

Drought has been and certainly will be. On this topic is based conversation with the Minister of the Environment, which includes questions on the continuing heat wave and drought.

Establishment and operation of the interdepartmental commission WATER-DROUGHT

RNDr. Tomáš Hrdinka, Ph.D. – 4–5/2015

Since the mid-80s of the 20th century in the Czech Republic is a demonstrable increase in water temperature slightly influenced by surface water as a result of climate change.

Presentation of the Global Water Partnership

Jonáš Rieder – 4–5/2015

The Global Water Partnership was established jointly by the Swedish Agency for International Development, United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank in 1996 as an international network in order to create a unified approach to the use of water resources.