Nature Conservation 3/2008 — 24. 6. 2008 — Focusing on the Public
Boating Men on the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. Rivers Status Report
Although the Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on the Protection of Nature and the Landscape, as amended...
Although the Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on the Protection of Nature and the Landscape, as amended later, prohibits sailing rivers in National Parks, the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. National Park Administration granted permission for the sport activity already in 1991. Moreover, mass boating has been affecting nature, even at the sites where it is specially protected. In the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. where the Vltava River is sailed along the stretch from the village of Lenora to the Lipno Water Reservoir (33 km in the length) the Vltavský luh/Vltava River Floodplain Nature Monument, one of the largest Šumava/Bohemina Forest Mts. peat-bogs (covering 1,700 hectares) has been most heavily threatened. The Nature Monument, including into the National Park I., i.e. the most strictly protected Zone, harbours a naturally meandering Vltava River stretch, rich in bottom growths. Among others, the Water Crowfoot (Batrachium fluitans), Intermediate Water-starwort (Callitriche hamulata), Alternate-flowered Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum alterniflorum) and at some sites also the Alpine Pondweed (Potamogeton alpinus) occur there. Risk to rare flora increases with the water level decline. Therefore, the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. National Park Administration proposed to limit the Vltava River sailing in the summer 2008 according to water level. The strictest limitation is to be applied to the central river's stretch from the Soumarský Most/Beast of Burden´s Bridge to Pěkná (17 km in the length). Because of the importance of the stretch, the ban on sailing from 16 June to 15 August is proposed. At the same time, the water level limits were set up as follows: 61 cm for canoes, 56 cm for kayaks respectively. On the other hand, the most moderate limitation, i.e. ban on multi-seat punts and rafts is to be applied for the lower stretch from Pěkná to Nová Pec.