Watercourses in the Czech Republic are divided into significant watercourses and small watercourses. Significant watercourses of a total length of around 15 538 km and a smaller part of designated small watercourses of a total length of 1383 km are administered by the “Povodí” state enterprises, i.e. Povodí Vltavy, státní podnik, Povodí Ohře, státní podnik, Povodí Labe, státní podnik, Povodí Odry, státní podnik and Povodí Moravy, s.p. Most small watercourses are administered by Zemědělská vodohospodářská správa (Agricultural Water Management Authority - circa 35 835 km) and Lesy České republiky, státní podnik (Czech Forestry Commission - circa 19 578 km).
Administration of watercourses
Bodies involved in the administration of watercourses under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture ensure the administration of more than 95.2 % of the length of all watercourses in the Czech Republic. The Ministry of Defence, the administrative bodies of national parks and natural persons and legal entities have a share of approximately 4.8 % in the administration of watercourses.
Professional administration of watercourses
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In 2005 the amendment was completed to decree No 470/2001 Coll., which designates a list of important rivers and the method of performing activities associated with the administration of rivers, made effective as of 1.7.2005 by decree No 267/2005 Coll.
Agricultural Water Management Authority
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The activities ensured by the AWMA are to a decisive extent publicly beneficial acts of a non-profit-making nature, services for care of state assets and departmental interests in the areas of water management in the individual catchment areas of the agriculturally utilised countryside and the ensuring of their protection, and generation and ecological stability.
Forests of the CR, s.e. – area administrations of watercourses
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As of 1.1.2005, the territorial competence of administrations of watercourses of Forests of the CR, s.e. were adapted to conform to the areas of the river boards (administrations of watercourses of the river board areas of the Elbe, Vltava, Berounka, Ohre, Odra, Morava and Dyje).
