Record low water levels expose former villages and military bunker at Hracholusky reservoir

The Hracholusky reservoir, the largest recreational lake in the Plzeň Region, is experiencing its most severe drought in a hundred years, according to officials from the Vltava River Basin Authority. The Mže River, which feeds the reservoir, recorded its lowest flow in the 96-year measurement record as of August, and the situation has worsened since early October, with water levels dropping about 21 centimetres. The drawdown has exposed the remains of the villages Dolany, Těchoděly and Butov, including tree roots from an old orchard and a former military bunker.

The Jihočeská plavební společnost has already lengthened a landing pier at Transkemp by eight metres, but the pier will soon be unusable, and the steamship Josef Švamberk may have to be taken out of the water earlier than usual. Regional governor Kamal Farhan announced temporary restrictions on outflow, while water managers said the reservoir is currently at roughly one-third of its storage capacity. Further measures will remain in place until the water level rises sufficiently.