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4 clusters · 7 sources · 35 days · First seen · Last updated

Lipno reservoir water level depletion and service suspension

Overview

The Lipno reservoir in the Czech Republic has experienced significant hydrological drought, leading to low water levels and necessary management adjustments. In late August, water outflow stabilized at a minimum of 6 m3/s after a brief increase intended to support downstream waterworks, the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, and Prague’s hygiene and environmental requirements.

By early September, the receding waters revealed historical infrastructure near Bližší Lhota, including the remains of a pub, a station, a jam factory, and a flax processing facility that existed before the dam was filled in 1958.

The hydrological crisis has now escalated to a total suspension of local transport services. On September 24, the ferry service between Horní Planá and Bližší Lhota officially ceased operations. While the service had previously been restricted to passengers and a maximum of four cars per trip, the continuous decline in water levels eventually made all operations impossible, requiring local volunteer firefighters to assist in removing the ferry from the water.

As of late September, the reservoir has reached approximately 50.72 percent of its capacity, missing over 124 million cubic meters of water. Water levels are declining daily; inflow averages less than two cubic meters per second, while outflow into the Vltava River remains approximately six cubic meters per second. This imbalance has caused the river to return to its original bed in certain areas near the dam's inflow.

The crisis is affecting the broader Vltava cascade, with reservoirs like Orlík also experiencing declines. To maintain necessary flow in Prague, Povodí Vltavy is utilizing water reserves from the Slapy Dam for the first time in history.

Entities

Povodí Vltavy · Lipno Reservoir · Horní Planá · Temelín Nuclear Power Plant · Orlík Dam

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Lipno Dam capacity drops to 50 percent amid Czech drought

    The Lipno Dam in the Czech Republic has dropped to roughly 50 percent capacity due to drought, causing declining water levels and disrupting local ferry services.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Lipno Reservoir ferry service suspended due to low water levels

    Low water levels at the Lipno Reservoir have forced the permanent suspension of the Horní Planá to Bližší Lhota ferry service.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Lipno Reservoir receding reveals old structures and limits ferry service

    Low water levels at the Lipno Reservoir in the Czech Republic have exposed remnants of old buildings and restricted ferry operations between Horní Planá and Bližší Lhota.

  4. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Lipno reservoir outflow returns to minimum levels

    Outflow from the Lipno II reservoir has returned to a minimum of 6 m3/s after temporary increases were used to combat hydrological drought and support downstream water needs.

Sources

ceskokrumlovsky.denik.cz · ekolist.cz · metro.cz · nase-voda.cz · prachaticky.denik.cz · tn.nova.cz · zdopravy.cz

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history