Rybníček u Starých Hutí

Rybníček u Starých Hutí is a small protected pond on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, located near the village of Dráchov in the Pelhřimov district, at an elevation of roughly 632 metres above sea level. It sits along the Huťský stream, with coordinates of approximately 49.3414°N, 15.0339°E. The site was declared a nature monument by the Pelhřimov District Office in 2001, granting it legal protection because of the well-preserved natural plant and animal communities found here, including several strongly endangered species.

What makes this pond special?

The pond is shallow and heavily shaded by surrounding vegetation, which keeps the water cool and low in nutrients — a type of water body known as oligotrophic. A narrow belt of littoral vegetation lines the banks, dominated by wild calla, tufted loosestrife, and marsh cinquefoil. Wet meadows spread out around the pond, extending the aquatic ecosystem into the surrounding land and adding to the overall biodiversity of the area.

What species live here?

The flora and fauna are the main reason this small pond earned formal protection. Its waters are home to rare fish species, including the European minnow and the sunbleak, both of which are considered sensitive indicators of clean, well-preserved aquatic habitats. Their continued presence signals that the pond remains in good ecological condition and functions as a refuge for organisms that have disappeared from many other sites in the region. The surrounding reed beds and wet meadows also provide habitat for insects and amphibians tied to damp environments.

Why was this site protected?

The primary purpose of protection is to preserve the natural aquatic and meadow communities together with the populations of rare and critically endangered plants and animals they support. Small, secluded ponds like this one are easily degraded by changes in water management or nutrient enrichment, which makes formal legal protection essential for the long-term survival of the species that depend on them.

What does the surrounding landscape look like?

The area around Staré Hutě and Dráchov is typical of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands — gently rolling terrain dotted with ponds, forests, and damp meadows. The region has a long tradition of fish farming dating back to the Middle Ages, when extensive networks of fishponds were built and are still used today. Rybníček u Starých Hutí, though modest in size, fits into this tradition as an example of a pond that has, over time, become valued primarily for its natural heritage rather than for fish production.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors walk around the pond? As a protected nature monument, the site has restrictions on interference with the environment, so visitors should stick to marked paths and avoid entering the water or the surrounding vegetation belt.

What fish live in the pond? The most valuable species are the European minnow and the sunbleak, both sensitive to water quality and increasingly rare in the wider region.

When is the best time to visit? Spring and early summer are ideal, when the littoral vegetation is in full bloom and the amphibians and insects tied to the wet habitat are most active.

Since when has the area been protected? The site has held nature monument status since 2001, when it was designated by the Pelhřimov District Office.