Hydric potential of landscape and integrated river basin management in mountain and submontane regions

As water becomes increasingly scarce, water managers are seeking new and sustainable solutions to water supply problems. Any inappropriate human activity in a river basin can bring about a series of irreversible changes that may completely influence the character of water resources and the way of their downstream usage. The presented methodical principle represents an attempt to solve problems of the international interest in relationship between human activities, the environment and natural resources, particularly water and soil resources. The main idea of the principle is to select areas with the greatest landscape potential for infiltration and retention of atmospheric precipitation. Then, in the areas there follows management of human activities for supporting of precipitation infiltration and retention as well as for minimizing possible adverse environmental and socio-economic consequences. Methodology was used in the upper Váh river basin (Slovakia) which represents a significant territory of the Váh River spring areas.