In this paper the data measured by application of the MDS NZ2 field rainfall simulator have been used to demonstrate the effect of vegetation cover on surface runoff generation and soil loss. The results of 15 experiments for two crops (oats and wheat) are presented. Canopy cover and the leaf area index are used to describe the vegetation development. Measured soil loss decreased with growing vegetation significantly from the maximum values 74.7 g/min for oats (38.4 g/min for wheat) to 0.4 g/min (1.5 g/min respectively) from the experimental plot of 16 m 2 . Thus, this work clearly demonstrates the positive effect of canopy development on soil loss. However, the effect of the developing cover on the surface runoff generation was not significant.

No abstract

The article presents a current view of the issue of the Neolithic mining site of Bílý kámen near Sázava (Czech Republic, Benešov district). The results are based both on an analysis of earlier finds and on the finds from a new archaeological excavation. The findings show that the traditional idea of one of the most important monuments of prehistoric mining activities of non-silicate rock in Central Europe will need to be substantially revised. The fact that it is not the main source of the raw material of marble bracelets during the period of the Stroked Pottery culture (5100/5000–4500/4400 cal BC) opens new space in a seemingly long-resolved discussion. Radiocarbon data enrich our knowledge of the activities taking place at Bílý kámen in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern period.

The risk of increasing frequency and duration of dry periods has become much more discussed topic with respect to expected climate change. This can result in water scarcity for different purposes. Besides others, agriculture and river ecosystems can be mentioned as those which can suffer from droughts. The retention of the landscape is therefore still more accented. Increase of landscape retention capacity is considered as a good way to keep water in the landscape which can be then available during dry periods. Despite the most retention capacity consists in the soil, the volume of small water reservoirs must be considered as important in conditions of the Czech Republic. This results in increased demand for building new small water reservoirs spread in the landscape. However, there is a lack of suitable profiles for that due to relatively high population density in the Czech Republic. The restoration of extinct ponds is considered therefore as a good option for this purpose. The paper presents the results of GIS analysis of the volume of water which would be available in case of the restoration of extinct ponds in the catchment of the river Blanice (543 km 2 ). For this purpose, detail elevation data were used to avoid unacceptable error in volume estimates due to the sizes of considered areas. The results of analyses show that there is considerable retention volume available which could be used either to improve hydrologic conditions in stream network or for agricultural use consisting mainly in irrigations. Additionally, the results were compared to discharge data for three profiles on main major stream channels. In general, the results show how the building of new small water reservoirs can be used to mitigate droughts.

Abstract. Estimations of flood frequencies in small catchments are difficult due to a lack of measured discharge data. This problem is usually solved in the Czech Republic by hydrologic modelling when there is a reason not to use the data provided by the Czech hydrometeorological institute, which are quite expensive and have a very low level of accuracy. Another way is to use a simple method which provides sufficient estimates of flood frequency based on the available spatial data. A new methodology is being developed considering all important factors affecting flood formation in small catchments. The relationship between catchment descriptors and flood characteristics has been analysed first to get an overview of the importance of each considered descriptor. The results for different descriptors vary from a highly correlated relationship of an expected shape to a relationship which is opposite to that expected, mainly in the case of land use. The parameterisation of the methodology is also presented, including the sensitivity tests on each involved catchment descriptor and cross-validation of achieved results. In its present form, the methodology achieves an R 2 adj value of about 0.61 for 10-and 0.60 for 100-year return periods.