Wetland restoration
near Heřmaničky
Wetland restoration
near Heřmaničky
near Heřmaničky
A desperate situation, a radical plan, a major reset, and a chance for change.
This sums up the progress of our efforts so far at the site below the dam of Heřmanický Pond.
This sums up the progress of our efforts so far at the site below the dam of Heřmanický Pond.
We’re in northern Bohemia, in the Mácha Region. Česká Lípa is just a few kilometers away as the crow flies, and the famous Mácha Lake is also just a short drive away. The pond known as Heřmanický is much smaller and more secluded.
But ornithologists know it well—and not only because of the large population of the critically endangered Eurasian crane. The land surrounding the pond, however, is severely degraded and has lain fallow for a long time. Yet it holds enormous potential for restoring waterways, habitats, and biodiversity.
But ornithologists know it well—and not only because of the large population of the critically endangered Eurasian crane. The land surrounding the pond, however, is severely degraded and has lain fallow for a long time. Yet it holds enormous potential for restoring waterways, habitats, and biodiversity.
We decided to take up the challenge, and in 2023 we purchased the first 5.4 hectares of land below the dam; by the end of 2024, we’d acquired another 13.5 hectares on the other side of the pond, at its head.
After two and a half years of planning, paperwork, and preparations, we launched and completed the large-scale restoration of the former wetlands and peat meadows below the dam at the turn of 2025 and 2026.
After two and a half years of planning, paperwork, and preparations, we launched and completed the large-scale restoration of the former wetlands and peat meadows below the dam at the turn of 2025 and 2026.
Why?
The shallow, roughly 5-hectare valley below the pond was likely filled with water in the past. It was probably a mosaic of peat pools, sedge and rush meadows, and perhaps even a small wetland. This is evidenced by the botanical survey conducted by ecologist Filip Lysák, who documented the last remnants of this vegetation and traces of peat. Just a short distance from the plot’s boundaries, orchids, irises, and other rare plants can still be found.
Main
problems
problems
However, even the Mácha Region wasn’t spared from systematic land drainage in the last century, and, as a result, our site was crisscrossed by five deep drainage ditches.
Unfortunately, these worked very effectively, successfully draining the valley and channeling the water into the main canal, which also serves as the outlet for Heřmanický Pond and is therefore occasionally full of mud.
The site, which had been left to dry out for an extended period of time and hadn’t even been managed—that is, it hadn’t been grazed or mowed—quickly deteriorated. It became overgrown with reeds, dense shrubs, and self-sown trees, mainly birches.
Unfortunately, these worked very effectively, successfully draining the valley and channeling the water into the main canal, which also serves as the outlet for Heřmanický Pond and is therefore occasionally full of mud.
The site, which had been left to dry out for an extended period of time and hadn’t even been managed—that is, it hadn’t been grazed or mowed—quickly deteriorated. It became overgrown with reeds, dense shrubs, and self-sown trees, mainly birches.
We therefore asked Filip Lysák, an experienced ecologist who has been designing and implementing nature restoration projects—particularly for wetland habitats—for over 20 years, to propose a solution that would give the site a chance to recover and function sustainably for plants, animals, and even us humans.
Project
proposal
proposal
“The situation at the site calls for a radical solution, one that will also respect the positive elements that remain on the property or have been newly created.”
Filip Lysák, ecologist, author of the project
One positive aspect was the remaining patches of wetter, sedge-free meadows with the great burnet, a strikingly red-flowering plant that is crucial to the presence and survival of the endangered scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius). This species of butterfly survived at the site in a small population covering roughly one-third of a hectare.
In the northernmost of the five drainage ditches, the water violet has successfully established itself once again. This small plant takes root at the bottom and blooms with white flowers above the water’s surface. It needs still or gently flowing water to survive, and the drainage ditches have provided just that.
With an awareness of these and other features that needed to be preserved during the restoration, a comprehensive plan for this site was developed, which can be divided into a main phase—involving the use of chainsaws and excavators—and a subsequent restoration phase. The latter phase is significantly gentler and also longer, and will ensure that the newly restored natural processes at the site have a chance to take root.
Results:
Spring 2026
Results:
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
A widespread reduction of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation by approximately 70% of the original area. In practice, this involved extensive felling and removal of self-sown trees, primarily birches and willows, as well as poplars and alders. An excavator then cleared the dense growth of blackberry bushes and reeds. After felling, we further milled the stumps—that is, “leveled them with the surface,” to create an area that could be mowed.
The removed saplings had to be taken out of the site; in most cases, the trunks were so thin that the only solution was to chip them and then transport them away. In a few places, we piled up small amounts of the cuttings and left them as potential habitats for beetles.
Area with reduction: 0.78 ha
The removed saplings had to be taken out of the site; in most cases, the trunks were so thin that the only solution was to chip them and then transport them away. In a few places, we piled up small amounts of the cuttings and left them as potential habitats for beetles.
Area with reduction: 0.78 ha
Cleanup
Between December 2025 and March 2026, we carried out the main phase of the project, which consisted largely of construction work. It involved the following measures:
Through our restoration efforts, we managed, among other things, to make the site much more accessible, allowing us to proceed with the most critical step—the removal of the five drainage ditches.
This again required an excavator, which backfilled the trenches with a mixture of the densest possible soil, tree stumps, and sod. The composition of the backfill varied depending on which section of the trench was being worked on, with the “best” material (in the sense of being the least permeable) always going to the section where the channels originally flowed into the main drainage pipe.
Length of the filled-in ditches: 492 m
This again required an excavator, which backfilled the trenches with a mixture of the densest possible soil, tree stumps, and sod. The composition of the backfill varied depending on which section of the trench was being worked on, with the “best” material (in the sense of being the least permeable) always going to the section where the channels originally flowed into the main drainage pipe.
Length of the filled-in ditches: 492 m
Soil drainage removal
We created four smaller pools, each several hundred meters in size, in natural depressions, as well as a larger body of water that we call the “central wetland.” This is bordered on the north by a small embankment and is complemented by areas where we turned over the deeper soil layer to bring sand to the surface (characteristic of the Kokořínsko-Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area).
This has created unique microhabitats. All of the pools and wetlands are located along the course of the abandoned drainage canals; they are no deeper than 0.5 meters and have long, gently sloping shorelines.
Total area of the ponds created: 5,470 m²
This has created unique microhabitats. All of the pools and wetlands are located along the course of the abandoned drainage canals; they are no deeper than 0.5 meters and have long, gently sloping shorelines.
Total area of the ponds created: 5,470 m²
Pools construction
A technically challenging but essential step was removing the topsoil—that is, the vegetation and the top layer of soil (to a depth of 5–10 cm). What is this good for?
In stands that have been left unattended for a long time, nutrients and dead plant material accumulate and invasive plant species thrive.
By removing old vegetation, debris, and sod, the area is given a chance to start over—to restore the biotope specific to the original habitat, in our case flower-rich meadows, particularly those without moor grass.
Area of sod removed: 1.9 hectares
In stands that have been left unattended for a long time, nutrients and dead plant material accumulate and invasive plant species thrive.
By removing old vegetation, debris, and sod, the area is given a chance to start over—to restore the biotope specific to the original habitat, in our case flower-rich meadows, particularly those without moor grass.
Area of sod removed: 1.9 hectares
Topsoil removal
“The entire implementation was lengthy and relatively challenging; the excavators were operating in waterlogged soil that was giving way beneath them, especially near the main drainage pipe.
Two things helped us out, though—a ‘mud-hunter’ excavator arrived to handle the final touches, which is designed specifically for this kind of terrain. There are only a few of them in Czechia, so we were lucky.
We were also lucky that it hadn’t rained much at all during those three months, and the site was quite dry by local standards. On top of that, there was a severe cold snap for a few weeks around the turn of the year, which helped freeze even the wettest soil solid. That helped us a lot, too.”
Two things helped us out, though—a ‘mud-hunter’ excavator arrived to handle the final touches, which is designed specifically for this kind of terrain. There are only a few of them in Czechia, so we were lucky.
We were also lucky that it hadn’t rained much at all during those three months, and the site was quite dry by local standards. On top of that, there was a severe cold snap for a few weeks around the turn of the year, which helped freeze even the wettest soil solid. That helped us a lot, too.”
Marek Rybár, ecologist, manager of the project
The area below the dam of Heřmanický Pond has been transformed beyond recognition, and we believe this to be a step in the right direction. But our work is not yet done.
Through the end of 2028, we’ll be engaged in intensive restoration management aimed at ensuring that newly established natural processes take root at the site, that the area is not overrun by invasive plant species, and that an increasingly diverse array of less aggressive—yet all the more valuable—plant species gradually becomes established there. The growth of flora will go hand in hand with that of fauna.
Ongoing management
1. Intensive manual mowing
The plant community in the restored areas will need to be carefully managed through regular mowing. This will not only ensure ample light for young plants, allowing a wider variety of species to thrive, but will also remove excess nutrients from the site.
Measures
As we had anticipated, the first few years following the revitalization will be marked by the vigorous growth of plants such as nettles, reed grass, small weed, and blackberry bushes.
We will address this by mowing the area twice: manually and in stages. The mowing will also be done in a patchwork pattern. Each time, we’ll leave out strips, patches, and swaths of vegetation that are growing better, which we’ll remove during the next mowing.
We will address this by mowing the area twice: manually and in stages. The mowing will also be done in a patchwork pattern. Each time, we’ll leave out strips, patches, and swaths of vegetation that are growing better, which we’ll remove during the next mowing.
2. Working with green hay
Just 1 kilometer away from us lie the Okřešické Meadows. This area, designated a natural monument, boasts wetland habitats teeming with endangered plant species. Notable species include the broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis), the heath spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), the fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), and the Siberian iris (Iris sibirica).
Following an agreement with the Okřešické louky site managers from AOPK ČR, we will use green hay from this natural monument during the restoration management period.
In practice, this means that immediately after mowing, the material will be transported to our site, where we’ll spread it out and work it into the soil so that the flowers that have already bloomed be seeded on our property. It’s a relatively time-consuming process, but one that usually yields results. We’ve already had success with this method at another site—a complex of wetland areas near Maříž—where it produced results.
In practice, this means that immediately after mowing, the material will be transported to our site, where we’ll spread it out and work it into the soil so that the flowers that have already bloomed be seeded on our property. It’s a relatively time-consuming process, but one that usually yields results. We’ve already had success with this method at another site—a complex of wetland areas near Maříž—where it produced results.
Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)
Heath spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Siberian iris
(Iris sibirica)
(Iris sibirica)
Broad-leaved marsh orchid
(Dactylorhiza majalis)
(Dactylorhiza majalis)
Further plans
The wetland area below the Heřmanický Pond dam will most likely always require some level of maintenance to remain an open, species-rich part of the landscape. However, we hope that after the first few years of intensive efforts, only one manual mowing per year or extensive grazing will be needed.
Of course, we’ll continue to monitor and keep a watchful eye on conditions in this small valley over the long term. We also have a number of zoological, botanical, and hydrological surveys ahead of us, which will provide a scientific comparison of the site’s condition after restoration with its condition before it. We look forward to seeing what these efforts reveal.
Of course, we’ll continue to monitor and keep a watchful eye on conditions in this small valley over the long term. We also have a number of zoological, botanical, and hydrological surveys ahead of us, which will provide a scientific comparison of the site’s condition after restoration with its condition before it. We look forward to seeing what these efforts reveal.
Our efforts will also focus on the area above the pond, which is nearly three times larger. This area consists largely of the pond’s outflow and holds similar potential for restoration.
In 2025, we commissioned the Czech Ornithological Society to conduct a detailed ornithological survey, which we are supplementing with a botanical survey in 2026. We’re also conducting our own hydrological survey at the site.
These two enclaves—one below the dam and the other in the pond’s backwater—could one day together form a thriving refuge for the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.
In 2025, we commissioned the Czech Ornithological Society to conduct a detailed ornithological survey, which we are supplementing with a botanical survey in 2026. We’re also conducting our own hydrological survey at the site.
These two enclaves—one below the dam and the other in the pond’s backwater—could one day together form a thriving refuge for the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.
Project financing
From 2025 to 2028, our project to restore natural habitats below the Heřmanický Pond dam is part of a series of grants designed to support, among other things, the biodiversity of the Czech landscape. The grant from the Environment Operational Program covers 100% of the costs associated with earthwork and construction, the careful removal of unwanted trees, the pruning of shrubs, and subsequent management over several years, which mostly consists of mowing.
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