Monitoring of the restored streams in the Vltavský Luh (Šumava National Park)

The area of the Vltavský Luh (lower part of the Tepla Vltava stream and the Studena Vltava stream catchments) has been seriously altered by amelioration of mires and wet meadows and channelisation of streams draining them. Removal of the old drainages and restoration of the channelised sections of streams has been implemented to recover the hydrological regime of the area. Lower sections of the three streams, Hucina, Jedlový Potok and Žlebský Potok, have been restored in 2013–2015. The associated research is focused on the monitoring and evaluation of the success of these restorations. Main objectives are (i) to describe the colonisation of the restored stream channels by aquatic macroinvertebrates and the development of their assemblages in relation to flow and substratum conditions, (ii) to compare macroinvertebrate and plant communities before and after restoration, and (iii) to analyse the dynamics of vegetation changes in relation to the water regime and plant growth forms.