Successful restoration of the Hučina stream in the Šumava National Park

DE DONNOVÁ, Selma, Vanda ŠORFOVÁ and Jindřiška BOJKOVÁ. Successful restoration of the Hučina stream in the Šumava National Park. In The conference: Evaluating the success of wetlands and watercourses restoration. 2023.

Basic information

• Original name: Successful restoration of the Hučina stream in the Šumava National Park
• Name (in English): Successful restoration of the Hučina stream in the Šumava National Park
• Authors: DE DONNOVÁ, Selma, Vanda ŠORFOVÁ and Jindřiška BOJKOVÁ.
• Edition: The conference: Evaluating the success of wetlands and watercourses restoration, 2023.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Conference abstract
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: Book of abstracts
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

Stream restoration is becoming an increasingly common method used to improve riverine habitat structure and promote biodiversity. However, the latter goal is often not reached due to several constraints, such as impoverished local species pool, persisting low water quality, or unsuitable restoration design. Complex, technical restoration of Hučina stream and two other brooks in the Šumava National Park is somewhat rare, since in this case, none of the abovementioned constraints apply. Streams, that were previously transferred to the forest edge, narrowed, and entrenched to facilitate timber floating and drain surrounding meadows consequently used as pastures and fields, were re-meandered according to historical maps and clues provided by vegetation patterns. Restored streams were monitored for 3‒5 years, focusing mainly on colonisation by benthic macroinvertebrates. Due to contiguity to natural streams in the proximity to restored stream sections and favourable conditions in the catchments, macroinvertebrates colonised them rapidly. Species richness in restored sections of the Hučina stream had plateaued two years after restoration and reached values comparable to its natural section upstream. Furthermore, restored streams continuously undergo self-dynamic development of habitats, changing pool-riffle-flow proportions, and alterations in substrate characteristics. Additionally, several stream sections have recently been transformed by beaver activity. Even though restored streams have not yet reached stability, they were colonised swiftly, and they continue to develop by natural processes.