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Rehabilitating the floodplain of the lower River Dyje for fish
Author(s) -
Lusk Stanislav,
Halačka Karel,
Lusková Věra
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
river research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.679
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1535-1467
pISSN - 1535-1459
DOI - 10.1002/rra.740
Subject(s) - floodplain , fluvial , hydrology (agriculture) , alluvium , flooding (psychology) , drainage basin , environmental science , habitat , tributary , fish <actinopterygii> , alluvion , geography , geology , fishery , ecology , structural basin , geomorphology , biology , psychology , geotechnical engineering , cartography , psychotherapist
The lower reaches of the River Dyje were heavily modified between 1975 and 1985. The river was straightened, isolating its meanders and reducing its length by 22%. As a consequence, the river bed showed a markedly lower diversity in both hydrological and morphological characteristics. Because the River Dyje forms the state boundary between the Czech Republic and Austria, fluvial activity of the lower reaches is excluded. Along the River Dyje an active alluvium has been preserved, with approximately 1300 hectares in the Czech Republic and somewhat less in Austria. The flow regime in the lower reaches is regulated by 19 water reservoirs and a number of fishponds, with a total capacity of approximately 45% of the annual drainage. These modifications have distinctly impacted the living conditions of the indigenous ichthyofauna. Based on the results of our ichthyological investigations from 1994 to 2000, we have recommended a number of modifications that could improve the environmental conditions for fishes: (i) controlled flooding of the alluvial meadows, aimed at creating conditions for the spawning of phytophilous fish species; (ii) restoration of permanent connections between separated river meanders and the River Dyje to increase the hydrological and morphological diversity in the river bed; (iii) creation of artificial pools in the floodplain to provide more suitable habitats for fishes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.