River Landscape of Drahouš
Studio Salzmann
The goal of my work is a comprehensive analysis of the river landscape in the cadastral area of Drahouš. This analysis serves as a source of information for other projects that relate to the river landscape in this area.
The assignment was to create a collective vision for Drahouš, after which each team member then selected a specific topic to work on further. This shared vision served as the foundation for our following individual projects.
In my project I first defined the territory of the whole river landscape and categorized it to define its characteristics for further study. Three of four streams in this area originate here: Javornice, Rakovnický stream, and Drahoušský stream, from which the municipality draws water that is later treated for drinking purposes. I defined it by following the Methodology for the Detailed Delimitation of River Floodplains issued by the Ministry of the Environment. By combining specific maps, the river landscape can be roughly defined. This has to be followed by a detailed definition performed in the field to confirm and specify the boundaries defined earlier. Then I categorized the river floodplains based on the same methodology, dividing sections of the streams into categories according to the land cover and land use of the areas they flow through. Each category has specific restrictions, which must be considered when working with river floodplains. After categorization, I analyzed the condition of the watercourses, considering their proximity to their natural state and the ways in which they have been degraded by humans. Most of the streams in the cadastral area have been unfortunately straightened and deepened, which accelerates water flow, reduces water retention, increases the risk of floods and erosion, and causes the landscape to lose its natural character. In some locations, the streams have also been piped underground, further worsening their ecological functions. Additionally, the municipal water intake point in Drahouš is threatened by fertilizer runoff from surrounding fields.
The landscape of Drahouš plays a crucial role in the water ecosystem, even for lower-lying areas, as the water that springs here supplies these regions. Drahouš has the opportunity to cultivate and support these spring areas to better the quality and quantity of water that spring in its cadaster.
In my project I first defined the territory of the whole river landscape and categorized it to define its characteristics for further study. Three of four streams in this area originate here: Javornice, Rakovnický stream, and Drahoušský stream, from which the municipality draws water that is later treated for drinking purposes. I defined it by following the Methodology for the Detailed Delimitation of River Floodplains issued by the Ministry of the Environment. By combining specific maps, the river landscape can be roughly defined. This has to be followed by a detailed definition performed in the field to confirm and specify the boundaries defined earlier. Then I categorized the river floodplains based on the same methodology, dividing sections of the streams into categories according to the land cover and land use of the areas they flow through. Each category has specific restrictions, which must be considered when working with river floodplains. After categorization, I analyzed the condition of the watercourses, considering their proximity to their natural state and the ways in which they have been degraded by humans. Most of the streams in the cadastral area have been unfortunately straightened and deepened, which accelerates water flow, reduces water retention, increases the risk of floods and erosion, and causes the landscape to lose its natural character. In some locations, the streams have also been piped underground, further worsening their ecological functions. Additionally, the municipal water intake point in Drahouš is threatened by fertilizer runoff from surrounding fields.
The landscape of Drahouš plays a crucial role in the water ecosystem, even for lower-lying areas, as the water that springs here supplies these regions. Drahouš has the opportunity to cultivate and support these spring areas to better the quality and quantity of water that spring in its cadaster.
