Considering its name does Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk conjure images of sweet treats? Perhaps not exactly. But this pond has a fascinating link to sugar production.
Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk sits in Prague Vino\u0159. It is fed by the Vino\u0159sk\u00fd potok. The city of Prague owns this charming spot. Lesy hl m Prahy manages it. The \u010cRS territorial association of the city of Prague handles fish management.
Time for a quick history lesson. Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk was built in the late 19th century. It was created on the wet meadows around Vino\u0159sk\u00fd potok. Its primary purpose? To supply water for washing sugar beets at a nearby sugar factory. So the name makes sense. Doesn’t it?
Over the years Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk suffered neglect. It gradually silted up and its structures decayed. By 2012 two-thirds of the pond were filled with sediment. Sadly industrial production contaminated these sediments with pollutants.
Thankfully the city of Prague stepped in. In 2010 it acquired the pond from a private owner. Revitalization preparations began immediately. This was the last unrestored pond on Vino\u0159sk\u00fd potok.
In 2012 the pond was drained. Workers removed 5000 cubic meters of sediment. The sediment layer ranged from 0.1 to 1 meter thick. Due to contamination the waste went to a special landfill.
Near the pond’s inflow workers preserved some wetland vegetation. This littoral zone features three small pools. Such areas are vital for amphibians and nesting birds. The pond’s right bank was reinforced using stone.
Work continued in 2013 on water management structures. All original concrete elements were removed. A new discharge device and safety overflow were built. The structures feature concrete with stone facing. Sandstone was used for the safety overflow’s edge. Other structures used quartzite porphyry resembling sandstone.
The dam was covered with stone paving. The surroundings were cleared of waste. The left bank slopes gently. This provides better water access. The stream bed below the pond was once bricked. After removing remnants the banks were cleaned.
In 2019 a viral fish disease struck. The pond was drained. The bottom dried out. Workers removed 2000 cubic meters of sediment. This sediment came mainly from erosion of Vino\u0159sk\u00fd potok.
From a nature perspective the pond is not that interesting. Dumps and ruderalization negatively impacted the area. Still a nice bankside growth exists with alders. Common animals include mallards and marsh frogs.
Today Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk is a sport fishing area. The Czech Anglers Association manages it. They stock the pond twice a year. Fishing is prohibited from the dam and the rear marked by signs.
Isn’t it remarkable how Cukrovarsk\u00fd rybn\u00edk transformed? From a water source for sugar production. To a neglected polluted area. And now a revitalized pond for recreation and nature.