Turbulence in Nové Heřminovy as reservoir construction divides community

In the very heart of Europe, a storm of controversy disturbs the serene landscapes of Nové Heřminovy as the village grapples with the divisive issue of constructing a flood protection reservoir.

For almost a century the chorus of opposition against the reservoir has been reverberating through the village and did not end even when the construction received a zoning decision this July. Near the tides of the river Opava, people still remember the tragic floods in 1997 that took the lives of dozens of people and left many more homeless. The event is still viewed as the most tragic natural disaster in the Czech Republic as well as central Europe. Building a dam should prevent it from ever happening again. The cost, however, would be paid by Nové Heřminovy.

Refusing to follow in the footsteps of Slezská Harta reservoir

The Nové Heřminovy reservoir, poised to become the Czech Republic’s newest water body, follows in the footsteps of the Slezská Harta reservoir within the same region. Slezská Harta, birthed through the inundation of the entire village of Karlovec and segments of Nová Pláň, Rázová, Dlouhá Stráň, Leskovec, and Roudno, stands as a predecessor to Nové Heřminovy. However, unlike their counterparts in the past, the residents of Nové Heřminovy vehemently opposed a similar fate.

Engaging in a protracted battle with the state, the citizens of Nové Heřminovy succeeded in safeguarding their homes from complete submersion when the state ultimately sanctioned a reduced version of the dam. Nevertheless, even this scaled-down dam necessitates the forced relocation of numerous residents and an irreversible alternation of the whole village.

The Shift

In the year of 2008, the citizens of Nové Heřminovy voiced their disagreement by declaring a referendum in the hope that it may save their beloved home.

“Before the new referendum is declared, this one is still valid and the city leaders should do everything to defend the interests of the citizens who expressed their opinions against the dam construction,” says the city council member Dana Kalašová

However, this July there was a big breakthrough as the political power shifted in Nové Heřminovy.  With the change in the elections and the coming of developers on top of the city council, the planned Nové Heřminovy reservoir received a zoning decision. The construction will start in 2027 and should be finished in 2031. The proposed dam is designed with a 330-meter-long concrete barrier standing at a height of 26.5 meters. The total reservoir capacity is 14.54 million cubic meters of water, with 11.56 million allocated for mitigating major floods. The inundated area covers nearly 130 hectares. The estimated cost is 4.26 billion Czech crowns which equals 175 million euro.                                                                                                                                  

Reservoir as the promise of economic growth

According to the organization Povodí Odry which oversees the construction, the Nové Heřminovy dam represents a multifaceted project. Not only will it serve as a crucial flood protection measure, but it also addresses concerns related to drought and the adverse impacts of climate change. Moreover, the organization claims that the dam is positioned to catalyze economic growth in the region, particularly in the tourism sector. Povodí Odry champions this initiative as a substantial investment that stands in the collective interest of the entire region. Despite the organization’s promises, public discontent persists as a part of Heřminovy should be flooded in the process.        

Voices against the dam

According to the native Kalašová, the organization Povodí Odry which oversees the construction applies undue pressure and is unclear in its communication, so it is hard to reach a compromise.

Ivo Dokoupil, an environmental activist, and the representative of the movement Duha Jeseníky has been fighting alongside the village’s citizens for years. He also points out the organization’s false play.

“Povodí Odry blackmails the mayors of neighbouring municipalities. They promised them protection in the form of dams in exchange for a signature expressing content with the water reservoir in Nové Heřminovy, but in the 20 years, they gained nothing. It is not an exactly fair game.”

So far, a billion Czech crowns, which is around 41 million euro, have been spent with no visible effect except for the reservoir plans. In addition to that, the European Commission has excluded the project from the National Recovery Plan and will provide no funding as it is not aligned with their environmental strategy. The project must rely on state resources.

Environmental effects

Amid the disruption in Nové Heřminovy and the costs of the reservoir, the primary opposition to the dam construction stems from the grim environmental effects that it would bring.

In expressing the grave concerns surrounding the construction of the dam on the Opava River, the local environmental advocate Dokoupil passionately articulates the potential consequences. They emphasize the imminent catastrophe, particularly in the most precious stretch of the river, where the tranquility and untouched nature have made it a haven for diverse protected species. Their poignant words shed light on the ecological richness at stake and the severe impact that the dam’s construction could have on the delicate balance of this pristine environment. River dam construction can significantly alter the natural flow and ecology of a river, leading to habitat disruption and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the accumulation of sediment behind dams can impact water quality downstream, posing environmental challenges for aquatic ecosystems.

“Populations of freshwater species have fallen by an average of 83% globally since 1970, the largest decline of any species group, according to WWF Living Planet Report 2022.. Dams are major contributors to this global decline in freshwater biodiversity, mainly through altering river flows, disrupting fish migration, reducing water quality or water quantity,”

described Claire Baffert, senior water Policy Officer at WWF

The proposal of an alternative strategy

Nevertheless, alternative strategies and nature-based flood management solutions exist and can be cheaper. Baffert adds that implementing nature-based flood management solutions may require time, but their efficiency is undeniable. Actions like expanding rivers, linking them to floodplains, and establishing riparian forests serve as natural buffers, storing excess water during high flows. Beyond flood control, these measures offer additional advantages like generating eco-tourism income and storing carbon.                                                                      

The opposition calls for one of such strategies to be implemented. The intended strategy was created by an engineer and independent water manager Václav Černý and stands upon natural solutions. Despite its clear benefits, the strategy was not adopted.   

                                              

Hopes for the future 

“Even though the chance of winning seems lower, we do not want to give up. We want to fight a be on the right side. We cannot stop the zoning decision; we can only hold it back and point out its problematic parts,” .    

Voiced Dokoupil with a spirit.

Despite the odds, many still believe in the future of Nové Heřminovy without the dam.  Or at least that it can once again be a lively place, united in its community and its vision.