Optimization of Flood Protection by Semi-Natural Means and Retention in the Catchment Area: A Case Study of Litavka River (Czech Republic)

Abstract

Of all natural disasters, floods represent the most serious threat to the territory of the Czech Republic. This is given by the situation of the Czech Republic at the continental as well as the worldwide scale. At present, the design of anti-flood measures is mostly based on technical measures, without considering improvements in the hydromorphological status according to the Framework Directive on Water Management and without considering the natural transformation of flood discharge in the alluvial plains of water courses. This report presents a design for the optimization of anti-flood measures in the pilot catchment of the Litavka River, in which we propose particular measures for the catchment for its entire surface while providing a good hydromorphological status. We also wanted to quantify the proposed measures leading to the increased retention and accumulation capacities of the catchment area.