Monitoring Changes in the Morphology and Storage of a Small Water Reservoir: A Case Study from Vrbovce, Slovakia

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>One of the most profound problems in the operation of water reservoirs is their siltation by sediments coming from agricultural land. The siltation of water reservoirs can significantly shorten their life spans and prevent them from effectively fulfilling their functions. Therefore, accurate monitoring of the current state and dynamics of siltation processes is critical to maintaining their economic, environmental, and societal functions. This study presents a simple method to evaluate the sedimentation rate of a small water reservoir in Slovakia. The method is based on comparing the results from two bathymetric surveys that were carried out in 2017 and 2019 using an ultrasonic acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP), which was originally developed to measure river discharges. A raster map of the thickness of the sediment in the reservoir was assembled by subtracting the two bathymetric surveys from each other. The analysis of the results showed that the mean annual sedimentation rate of the reservoir is only 101 m<jats:sup>3</jats:sup>/year, representing a mean increment in sediment thickness of 1.4 cm. The method described showed promising results and could be applied to numerous small water reservoirs of a similar size across Slovakia.</jats:p>

The importance of historical maps for man-made pond research: From the past extent of ponds to issues of the present landscape. A case study from the Czech Republic

“…Their contribution to groundwater recharging is sometimes disputed (Kale, 2017), as well as their ecological functions when they can disturb the natural migration trajectories of certain fish species (DeFries et al, 2019), change the quality of water in the watercourses (Igantius and Rasmussen, 2016), store the environmental pollutants from anthropogenic activity (Bábek et al, 2021), or create eutrophic or hypertrophic conditions due to the increased nutrient loading from agriculture and settlement (Potužák, 2016). The lack of maintenance or unsuitable management of man-made ponds may lead to the loss of some hydrological functions (Výleta, 2020), which may also cause the threat of dam burst or overflowing of man-made ponds during flood events (Lhotský, 2010).…”