Degradation and recovery of mountain watersheds: The Jizera Mountains, Czech Republic

Abstract

Acid atmospheric deposition and poor forestry practices led to severe erosion and water quality problems in the Jizera Mountain region in the northern part of the Czech Republic in the 1970s and '80s. Political and economic changes paved the way for watershed restoration in the 1990s. The authors (from the Czech Technical University and Charles University in Prague) describe the results of a monitoring study conducted since 1982 and outline the causes of water quality improvements over the past decade.