Agricultural drainage systems in the Czech landscape - Identification and functionality assessment by means of remote sensing

Abstract

Subsurface drainage systems are among the most important meliorative measures taken in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, their functions are perceived rather differently by Czech society. Perspectives differ among landowners, farmers, water managers, and environmentalists. With changing climatic conditions and new agricultural practices, the conditions of the existing drainage systems must be reassessed, particularly in relation to future strategy for funding and management. In this regard, the main decision makers in the Czech Republic are the farmers, rather than the state or landowners who would probably be more suitable. This paper presents the results of a survey of the conditions of drainage systems, their maintenance and their defects. New technologies, mainly remote sensing, and their use for the identification and survey of drainage systems are also presented. Land drainage measures have changed the entire landscape in the Czech Republic (agricultural intensification has caused the loss of a number of natural habitats and natural water flows). In the context of increasingly common occurrences of hydrological extremes and the aging of the drainage systems, the existence of such systems must be reconsidered. Either they should be preserved for agricultural production purposes, or, on the contrary, gradually eliminated to promote the recovery of natural habitats. The best solution for each part of the Czech Republic will differ according to the landscape characteristics of the given area.