Orlík Reservoir Water Level Drops by a Metre in a Week, Giant Catfish Found Dead

The water level in Orlík, the Czech Republic's second-largest reservoir, has dropped by 101 centimetres over the past week, and experts warn the decline is set to continue. The dam is releasing its stored water daily to help the Vltava River cope with the ongoing drought.

The receding waters have once again exposed the remains of villages that were flooded when the reservoir was built decades ago. Among the debris, a dead catfish measuring roughly two metres was discovered — the fish apparently could not survive the sudden change in conditions.

Water Reserves Running Low

Water reserves at Orlík are edging closer to the minimum permissible level, known as the permanent retention level. According to available data, only about eight and a half metres remain before this critical threshold is reached. Should the drought persist, the reservoir will have to keep releasing water into the Vltava, causing levels to drop even further, exposing more historical remnants and putting increasing pressure on the local ecosystem.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz