Small water reservoirs fulfil important functions both in the landscape and the water management of Slovakia. They contribute to the water supply in the areas with an inadequate hydrological network and insufficient groundwater resources. The paper presents the results of the typology of Slovak small water reservoirs made in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), and discusses the significance of riparian areas to the quality of water gathered in a reservoir. In Slovakia such areas have often been used for agricultural purposes up to the shore line. Employing a mathematical model we developed a design for creating or modifying a protective vegetation belt around a small water reservoir and applied it to the reservoir Doľany. The model is based on the assessment of ecological stability in individual microbasins adjacent to the reservoir.

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