Revitalization of an island in Podstránský pond 2025

The Podstránský pond, with an area of approximately 20 ha, is located near the villages of Dolní Lhota and Janovice nad Úhlavou in the Klatovy district. It forms a significant natural landscape element and, due to its location in the Klatovy basin, it is an important migration corridor for waterbirds. The Pilsen Region chose an island that is large enough, far enough from the shore, and relatively safe for birds, for major renovation. In the past, it was heavily enriched with nutrients from the built-up mud and also by the decomposition of biomass, so it quickly overgrew and mowing of the island was not effective. The Pilsen Region, in cooperation with its partner Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell), had the island modified so that it would once again become a suitable nesting place for birds. The only effective solution was to completely remove the upper layers of turf and soil, level the surface, lay a permeable fabric to prevent the growth of aggressive ruderal vegetation, especially wood small-reed and willows, and lay a gravel base at least in the central part of the island. The banks are modelled at a mild slope in relation to the water surface. This will limit overgrowth and create a stable area for bird nesting. The added river gravel of a small fraction will create an attractive nesting habitat for species that are in a severe decline in the Czech Republic and elsewhere and are threatened with extinction. These targeted modifications will increase the probability of nesting of a number of bird species tied to similar biotopes: black-headed gull, common tern, little ringed plover, northern lapwing, common sandpiper and others. The measure will also significantly contribute to creating a safe biotope for migratory bird species: e.g. the black stork, waders (tringa, calidris, plovers, curlews) but also waterfowl (Anseriformes). The newly created biotope will be regularly monitored by ornithologists watching for an increase and changes in the abundance and diversity of bird species living here.