Central Bohemia cuts Vltava cascade outflow as drought deepens
The Central Bohemian drought commission approved a temporary reduction of the Vltava cascade’s minimum discharge from 35 to 20 cubic metres per second, effective until 30 April next year. The measure aims to slow the decline of water levels in the Slapy and possibly Orlík reservoirs. Current water withdrawals remain unrestricted, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Povodí Vltavy and the Central Bohemian Region. The Orlík reservoir has already begun cutting its outflow and is using water from Slapy to maintain flow through Prague.
The Central Bohemian drought commission declared a water shortage on the Vltava and Labe rivers and authorized a temporary cut to the Vltava cascade’s minimum outflow at the Vrané waterworks, lowering it from 35 to 20 cubic metres per second until 30 April next year. This step is intended to curb the falling levels of the Slapy reservoir and, if needed, the Orlík reservoir. The Ministry of Agriculture, Povodí Vltavy and the Central Bohemian Region confirmed that water withdrawals for other uses remain unrestricted.
Since 4 September, the Orlík reservoir has reduced its outflow and, for the first time, drawn water from Slapy to sustain the Vltava’s flow through Prague. Povodí Vltavy has also reduced releases from the Římov reservoir to protect drinking-water supplies in South Bohemia. Volunteer groups have rescued more than 70 000 fish from exposed banks, with over 520 volunteers participating.
