Environmental Values: the Dunajovický and the Kos˘átecký Stream Catchments, Czech Republic

Based on research of the river landscape, spatial variability of environmental values and their changes over time, it is possible to identify parameters which are in some way involved in the formation of runoff processes. In this paper the issue of the natural values disturbances in an environment of watercourse and its floodplain is solved on the example of two model sites. These are the lowland catchment areas of small watercourses in the Czech Republic. On basis of the map visualization of collected data, the authors deal with interpretation of the landscape spatial pattern within the context of its ecological stability. To analyze the areas, series of maps are used in the appropriate scale showing the selected indicators related to the environmental values. These indicators are a combination of the field research results and information gathered from the available data sources. The space is devoted to the analysis of relationships between selected environmental indicators of spatial character and their impact on the state of the river network. Analyzed are the consequences of human activities in the riparian zone of watercourses, with regard to the phenomenon of the river continuum degradation and changes in other hydrological variables that may affect the overall security of the floodplain area.