Mountain Waters of the Czech Republic Expedition 2008. All moneys raised will go to charity.

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Earthwatch Project

1- Project Overview

The Mountain Waters of the Czech Republic Project aims to identify optimal strategies to rehabilitate headwaters areas of North Bohemia damaged by acid atmospheric deposition and commercial forestry, and to verify the environmental effects of those strategies in the Jizera Mountains. This long-term multidisciplinary research includes monitoring of water quality in precipitation and surface waters (reservoirs and streams) and detailed studies of hydrological and bio-geo-chemical processes in watersheds. The results will contribute to the assessment of critical atmospheric loads, the evaluation of trends in environmental processes related to the decreased level of pollution, the suggestion and the verification of alternative watershed management, and to national and international action plans for rehabilitation and protection of mountain ecosystems.

The first significant loss of spruce needles in the Jizera Mountains due to the effects of air pollution was observed in the 1960s. The acid atmospheric deposition culminated in the late 1980s. The load of sulphate was increased by the effect of spruce plantations (under the canopy of spruce stands, the deposition of sulphate exceeded several times the load measured in the open field). Surface waters had been extremely acidified with drastic changes in water chemistry and biota. I the upper plain, water courses and reservoirs had been fishless since the late 1950s. The improved quality of the water in streams and reservoirs observed since 1992 (elevated PH and alkalinity values, reduced content of sulphate and aluminium) is the result of lower acid deposition, liming of catchments, and a reduced canopy area caused by the harvest of spruce stands. Since 1995, the reservoirs Bedrichov, Sous, and Josefuv Dul and several related headwater streams were successfully restocked with brook char. Currently, forestry practices I watersheds of the Jizera Mountains are oriented to traditional environmentally friendly techniques (skidding the harvested timber by horses or cable-ways, ad reforestation with stands close to the native species composition of trees).

This year, our team are needed to collect samples of water, soil, and vegetation to evaluate the regrowth and viability of forest stands, to identify morphology, discharge and habitat of streams, and to measure physical and chemical parameters of the water. We may also assist in the program of soil erosion control and in the study of restocked fish populations.

1- Research Area

Jizera Mountains

The Jizera Mountains region is situated in the humid temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. This area is on an upper plain at an elevation of 800 meters, with gentle slopes and almost completes forest coverage (83%). Although forest stands of common beech and silver fir still dominated the region at the beginning of the 18^th century, Norway spruce became a prevailing species during the 19^th century. In the second half of the last century, spruce forests came to comprise about 90% of the whole forest cover in the Jizera Mountains.

In the mountains, southward-moving cold fronts and air rising along the north fault zone create most rainfall. The mixing of maritime and continental influences results I spring and summer showers, and precipitation on the upper plain is the highest in the Czech Republic. Snow cover usually lasts from the beginning of November to the end of April, and the average maximum depth of the snow-pack is about 120 centimetres.

The upper plain of the Jizera Mountains is popular for hiking. It is easy to reach the highest tops, which are Smrk (1.124 meters) and Jizera (1.122 meters). The gentle slopes are also convenient for cross-country skiing during the winter. At the end of the 19^th century, the first touring club in Liberec initiated trail-blazing and lookout towers in this region. Over the last 10 years, a proposal for the Jizera Mountains region to host the World Cup in classic skiing was repeatedly submitted. However, the proposal was never accepted largely due to the fragile environment of the area.

The Jizera Mountains were proclaimed a Protected Landscape Region by the Czechoslovak Ministry of Culture in 1967. Inside this protected area of 350 square kilometres, an additional 22 State Nature Preserves (total area of 18 square kilometres) were established for conservation of old natural beech stands, natural spruce stands in high elevations, and several peat bogs. In 1978, a decree of the Czech Government established the Jizera Moutains protected area as a Protected Headwater Area to control de quantity of run-off. In 1982, the new reservoir Josefuv Dul was constructed.

The mountains are sparsely populated with limited employment possibilities in forestry, management of water reservoirs, and nature conservation. Agriculture is limited by the climate ad elevation, and the region’s traditional glass and textile production is developed in lowland cities and villages, where tourism ad sports are meaningful sources of income and employment. The important industrial centers of North Bohemia lie at the southern border of the region, namely the cities of Liberec (100.000 habitants) and Jablonec 845.500 inhabitants).

1- Project Staff

Principal Investigators:

Dr. Josef Krecek, 57, has a background in hydrology and climatology, landscape ecology, and water resources management. His responsibilities on the project include logistics of the field research activities, hydrological survey and experimental watersheds.

Research staff

Dr. Zuzana Horicka, 48, has a background in botany and plant ecology and will be responsible for the research activities on chemistry and biology of surface waters.