<h1>Conservators want to dredge the Great Castle Pond in Lednice</h1>

LEDNICE - Preservationists want to dredge the Great Castle Pond in Lednice in the Břeclav region. The modification will cost about 80 million crowns. The preservation institute wants to obtain most of the funds from European Union (EU) subsidies."We already have the project ready. If it goes well, we could start dredging the pond next year," said the director of the institute, Jaromír Míčka, to ČTK today.
The Great Castle Pond is located right in the center of the Lednice Castle park. It covers an area of 26 hectares and has 12 islands. The pond was built by French prisoners after the Napoleonic Wars.
"Unfortunately, the condition of this unique water feature is deteriorating. The mud worsens the water quality. Additionally, it causes the gradual overgrowth of the water surface. If the pond is not dredged, its appearance may change completely over time," said the manager of the Lednice park, Oto Bernad, to ČTK.
The pond forms a nature reserve where the critically endangered bird, the bittern, resides. Therefore, it is not possible to drain the water feature and remove the mud with excavators. This could destroy the entire habitat. Additionally, trucks removing the mud would damage the park.
However, preservationists have already found a way to solve the problem. A special excavator could directly suck the mud from the water. The mud would be transported through a pipe created over the park to a location where it could be safely loaded and removed with heavy machinery.
"The pond definitely deserves this care. Every season, thousands of tourists walk along its shores," Bernad added.