SVK Military Forests and Estates wants to protect Malacky from floods by repairing 100-year-old fish ponds

SVK Military Forests and Estates, state-owned enterprise (SOE), wants to refurbish its nearly 100-year-old fish ponds on the Malina River and the Balážov Stream in the Military District Záhorie. These projects aim to protect the residents of Malacky and the defence estate from floods. The requests for non-refundable subsidies from the Quality of Environment Operational Programme for the fish ponds repair projects are being currently assessed by the Ministry of Environment.
 
Speaking after inspecting the current condition of the ponds, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The local fish ponds along with the surrounding lands were purchased from Count Pálffy by the State as early as 1928. Naturally, this alone speaks volumes about the current condition of the ponds. Today, we are forced to either repair or drain them. The latter would, however, have a negative impact on the ecosystem of this conservation area. Moreover, if refurbishment work to the ponds is not carried out, torrential rains and flood water could pose a serious threat to local residents and their property, with potential damage estimated at €12 million.”

Environment Minister Ján Budaj said: “The fish ponds have a water retention function. Through its support to their preservation, the Ministry will maintain the valuable natural environment that is instrumental to anti-flood protection.”

On the condition of the fish ponds, Director General of SVK Military Forests and Estates, SOE, Ján Jurica said: “We consider this territory to be highly valuable, however, only essential repairs to the ponds in emergency condition could be funded from our own resources. Therefore, our efforts were directed towards finding a complex systemic solution, one that would result in its long-term sustainability. Once approved, the project will see the pond banks repaired and hence contribute to preserving the fish ponds and protecting the health and property of both the residents and the State.” He added that implementing the so-called green measures – lagoons for amphibians and islets where water birds can nest – would be of considerable benefit insofar as it would result in maintaining this valuable ecosystem and enhancing its biodiversity significantly.

SVK Military Forests and Estates, SOE, has carried out several projects on flood defences. So far, it has built 11 flood polders and implemented 230 technical and biological measures. It remains committed to protecting local residents and property, namely by extending the existing flood defences and building new dry polders on the Jakubianka and Ľubica Rivers at the foot of the Levoča Hills in the former Military District Javorina.