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The aim of the study was to evaluate the impacts of recreational boat traffic on the water quality and ecological status of the Bata Canal (Czech Republic), an important tourist waterway in South Moravia. Field measurements of physicochemical water parameters (CODCr, NO3− N, Ptot, pH, EC, DO) and an on-site questionnaire survey among canal users were carried out. The results showed that recreational boat traffic does not cause measurable deterioration of water quality, even in the most intensively used sections. The highest values of dichromate chemical oxygen demand (up to 23.4 mg·l−1) and total phosphorus (0.2 mg·l−1) were recorded in Veselí nad Moravou, while all values remained below Czech surface-water guideline thresholds. The findings highlight the role of natural self-purification processes, hydrological conditions, and responsible visitor behaviour in maintaining water quality. From a landscape-planning perspective, the study emphasises zoning, bank management, and operational regimes as elements of blue-green infrastructure supporting ecological stability. The Bata Canal represents a successful example of coexistence between recreation and aquatic ecosystem protection, showing that under current recreational use, good ecological conditions can be sustained through appropriate management and user awareness.
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