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Kamniška Bistrica from the Springs to the Confluence with the Sava

The Kamniška Bistrica River rises from karst springs at an elevation of 623 metres in the terminal part of the Kamniška Bistrica Valley. The river, which has a torrential character, is 32.7 km long and flows into the Sava River as a left tributary at an elevation of 265 metres.

Water from the springs beneath landslide rocks, which collect water from below Kamniški dedec (1,576 m a.s.l.) and the torrential ravine of Repov kot, flows into a small pond dammed by a concrete sill. After one hundred metres, a torrential channel joins as a right tributary, collecting water from Repov kot and from below Žmavcarji, as well as other torrents descending from the amphitheatre of the Grintovec range. The great erosive power of torrents is evidenced by numerous landslide blocks and boulders in the channel itself. The torrents transport eroded material, which is gradually carried downstream.

One kilometre downstream lies a narrow gorge, the channels of the Kamniška Bistrica River known as Veliki Predoselj and Mali Predoselj. At the beginning of the 20th century, Predoselj was known as a waterfall on the Kamniška Bistrica. The waterfall cascaded over accumulated gravel that had built up behind jammed logs, until in 1953 a powerful torrent swept away the deposited material from the channels after more than 60 years. Above Veliki and Mali Predoselj, two landslide boulders are wedged in place like natural bridges. A wooden footbridge leads across the channel of Veliki Predoselj down to the bottom of the gorge.

The left, side valley of the Kamniška Bistrica is the valley of the torrential stream Kamniška Bela, which flows into the Kamniška Bistrica as a left tributary.

Below the hamlet of Kopišča, the Dolski graben stream flows into the Kamniška Bistrica as a left tributary, cascading down a 15-metre waterfall. Still within the Kamniška Bistrica Valley follow the right tributaries Grdi potok and Korošica, and the left tributary Konjski potok. Numerous smaller karst springs from the karst area of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps also flow into the river channel.

After 7.5 km of flow, at the exit from the Kamniška Bistrica Valley, the river receives its first larger tributary, the Črna, which flows into the Kamniška Bistrica at Stahovica as a left tributary, while the Bistričica stream joins as a right tributary, collecting water also from the well-known waterfall stream Korošak.

The first settlements, especially the central town of Kamnik and the industry along the river axis Kamnik–Domžale, were major sources of pollution for the river until just a few decades ago. Even in the 1970s, the river in Kamnik was blood-red due to the former slaughterhouse located below the Old Castle.

A major source of pollution was also the Količevo paper mill and the wastewater of the former Lek factory, which was discharged into the Kamniška Bistrica via the Pšata relief channel excavated in the early 1960s. Pollution of the river continues even today, both legally and illegally. Some nearby farmers have official permits to discharge wastewater into underground collectors directly into the river...

Another major source of pollution was the Količevo paper mill and the wastewater of the former Lek factory, which was discharged into the Kamniška Bistrica via the Pšata relief channel excavated in the early 1960s. Pollution of the river continues today, both legally and illegally. Some nearby farmers have official permits to discharge wastewater into underground collectors directly beside the river, from where it seeps directly into the channel. Due to the decline of industry, pollution of the Kamniška Bistrica has decreased and the water appears clear and clean, which especially in summer misleads many people into bathing in the river or letting their dogs cool off in the cold water—without realising that just a few metres away slurry is seeping into the channel, entirely legally. At Študa there is a central wastewater treatment plant that treats municipal wastewater from the higher-lying municipalities of Domžale and Kamnik. Pollution from industrial plants along the river is more “sabotage-like”, as illegal discharges occur at night or during high water levels.

The channel of the Kamniška Bistrica River from the settlement of Nožice to the settlement of Škrjančevo in the Municipality of Domžale: with a careful look at the banks, inputs of wastewater from nearby settlements can be observed. A look into the channel reveals “enriched” vegetation at these locations, supported by nutrients from wastewater. The Kamniška Bistrica is a torrential watercourse, so check dams were built to prevent erosion and to mitigate the erosive power of the river. Along much of the channel, the riverbanks are protected to prevent natural flooding across the floodplain.

Other major tributaries of the Kamniška Bistrica are the Rača (left tributary – Podrečje) and the Pšata (right tributary – Beričevo).

A characteristic feature of the Kamniška Bistrica are the numerous mill channels, which once powered many mills and sawmills. Along the 33 km length of the river channel, approximately 200 km of diversion canals and mill races were constructed, of which about 60 km are still active today.

Near Podgrad is the confluence of three rivers: the Ljubljanica, the Sava, and the Kamniška Bistrica. About 2,000 years ago, the Romans built a fortress here (Sava Fluvia); at that time, the stream Besnica flowed into the Sava at the same location. In the 18th century, due to navigation by large vessels on inland waterways, the Sava and Ljubljanica were regulated, and the confluence was therefore moved to Zalog (mentioned in chronicles by Janez Vajkard Valvasor).

Boštjan Burger, 3 January 2023