Restoration of Drained Mires in the Šumava National Park, Czech Republic

Abstract

About two thirds of mires in the Šumava National Park have been influenced by past drainage for forestry, agriculture and peat extraction. Since 1999, a “Mire Restoration Programme” started to be implemented in the area with the aim to restore disturbed hydrology and to stop mire degradation. The main restoration technique used was blocking of drainage ditches. Since 2005, monitoring project aimed at studying the degradation changes caused by drainage and evaluating the success of restoration started to be implemented in the area. Water table fluctuation, hydrochemistry, amount of precipitation, vegetation on permanent plots and runoff from subcatchments were monitored. Three year of pre- restoration monitoring shows that water table was maintained in a lower position than a natural system and exhibited higher fluctuations in direct relation to the amount of precipitation received on drained sites. Recession of typicall open bog vegetation and expansion of competitive grasses or trees towards the bog expanse were recorded on drained sites. Restoration was performed in 2008. The first results from the early post-restoration phase suggested positive effect of damming on the site hydrology. Changes in water chemistry after restoration were also presented.