Łukasz Wiejaczka

Evaluation of the hydromorphological state of mountain streams under the influence of contemporary human activity (Polish Carpathians)

This article contains an analysis of the hydromorphological state of mountain streams under contemporary human impact conditions. The subjects of the study are the Jaszcze and Jamne streams, located in the Polish Flysch Carpathians. The hydromorphological state of each stream reflects its habitat quality and depends on a number of natural and anthropogenic features. The research is conducted on the basis of a British method, the River Habitat Survey, which complies with the EU Water Framework Directive. The Habitat Quality Assessment and Habitat Modification Score indices are used to determine the diversification of natural features and the levels of human transformation of the streams studied. The research showed that the largest transformations in stream hydromorphology and habitat conditions occurred in those valley parts characterized by intensive development of building construction and hydrotechnical infrastructure.

Community perception of the Klimkówka Reservoir in Poland

This article presents the results of a survey on how people perceive the Klimkówka storage reservoir located on the Ropa River in the Polish Carpathians. The analysis focused on establishing the role of various factors which impact the assessment of the reservoir by the local community. Community perception of the reservoir was analyzed in relation to several aspects linked to the reservoir itself, e.g. the risk of dam failure, feeling of safety, pros and cons, and how accustomed people were to the reservoir. A crucial issue was to identify how the real threat of a flood, experienced by people living below the dam, affected the way people perceived the reservoir. As a result of the analysis, a hierarchy of factors which determine peoples assessment of large hydraulic structures was established. The results can be applied to determine specific measures aimed at limiting negative community perception of water infrastructure.

Climatic and dam-induced impacts on river water temperature: Assessment and management implications

In a changing climate with a warming trend in air temperature, river water temperature increases as a result of heat exchange with the atmosphere. Moreover, of the different types of anthropogenic activity impacting rivers, the construction of dams appears to have multi-dimensional effects on the river environment, and it especially affects the thermal condition of rivers. The aim of the study is to identify and assess the impact of these two distinct sources of water temperature distortion in relation to the natural thermal conditions of rivers. In the study, linear trend analysis and a complex wavelet transform are used. The analysis focuses on daily river water temperature data for time periods before and after the construction of selected reservoirs in the Polish Carpathians, and on daily air temperature data for neighboring meteorological stations. Three rivers were selected for analysis: (1) Dunajec River, 22km downstream of the Czorsztyn-Sromowce Wyżne reservoir complex, (2) Ropa River, 16km downstream of the Klimkówka Reservoir, and (3) Wisłok River, 33km downstream of the Besko Reservoir. Research has shown that the significant increasing trends identified for water temperature are weaker than analogous trends in air temperature. The Czorsztyn-Sromowce Wyżne and Klimkówka reservoirs appear to exert considerable influence on natural air-water temperature synchronization, because the phase difference increases 5-fold in comparison with conditions prior to the construction of the reservoirs. The weakening of the natural air-water temperature synchrony implies diminished impact of air temperature on stream water temperature. However, this creates an opportunity for preparing appropriate management practices mitigating an increasing temperature trend in order to shape more favorable (natural) thermal conditions for native aquatic biota in impounded rivers.

A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Land Use Changes in Two Mountain Valleys: with and without Dam Reservoir (Polish Carpathians)

Abstract This study analyzed the temporal and spatial changes in land use taking place in two adjacent river valleys, located within the Polish Carpathians. The land use in 1977 and 2009 was presented for selected areas. In one of the valleys, a dam has been operating since 1994 along with a retention reservoir, which is an additional factor influencing the direction and scale of the land use changes. An analysis using GIS techniques showed that the general directions of transformation in both valleys in the land use structure are similar but with different intensity. In studied valleys a decrease of area with agricultural land and gradual increase in the forested area have been observed. In the valley with the reservoir few more changes were noticed. The decrease of the forested area by 5.5% and farmland by 8.2% on the areas submerged by reservoir was observed. The strip fields pattern has been changed into more dispersed. The road network development was also observed, as well as the change of nature of residential/agricultural buildings into residential/recreational.

Influence of Reservoirs on the Concentration of Nutrients in the Water of Mountain Rivers

Abstract The aim of the analysis was to demonstrate the role of reservoirs in shaping nutrient content (nitrates NO3- and phosphates PO43- as well as ammonia NH4+) in the waters of mountain rivers. Three Carpathian rivers with reservoirs in their courses were selected for the study: the Ropa River (Klimkowka reservoir), the Dunajec River (the Czorsztyn-Sromowce Wyzne reservoir complex) and the Raba River (Dobczyce reservoir). The basic criteria for the selection of the study objects for the investigation were: similar hydrological regime of the rivers and diverse parameters and functions of the storage reservoirs. The analysis of nutrient concentration was based on a long-term series of measurements (2004-2013). The reservoirs investigated generally contribute to an increase in nitrates in the rivers flowing below the reservoirs in particular months. The role of reservoirs in shaping phosphate and ammonia levels was not as evident as in the case of nitrates. The reservoirs are merely one of numerous factors that contribute to nutrient levels in the water of the mountains rivers. In the light of the analysis of nutrient concentrations in the surface water tested, it may be concluded that the reservoirs do not cause a clear and permanent deterioration of river water quality.

Socioenvironmental issues of river bed material extraction in the Himalayan piedmont (India)

The present study focuses on the Balason river running through the Himalayan piedmont zone (near Siliguri, India). The objective of the study is an assessment of the environmental effects of river bed material extraction by humans and the dependence of indigenous people on the river and its ecosystem services. The analysis is based on results of field work consisting of geodetic measurements of the river channel and interviews among the local community from the Nimtijot village. Historical hydrological data were also used for the study. The results of the investigation show that the Balason river is heavily affected by excessive exploitation of river bed material during dry season and the replenishment of extracted material in a monsoon season is not always sufficient. It leads to channel deepening. The local community working in the river heavily depends for its livelihood on continuing this activity. A decreasing amount of bed material to be extracted may lead to degradation of the strong relationship between the local community and their natural environment (river).

Reservoir’s Impact on the Water Chemistry of the Teesta River Mountain Course (Darjeeling Himalaya)

Abstract The article presents the role of the newly built reservoir in the formation of the hydrochemistry of water of the Teesta River (a tributary of the Brahmaputra) in its Himalayan course. Field research were performed in the post-monsoon season of the period 2013-2015. Sampling and measuring points were located in five points over 43 km of the Teesta River in the Darjeeling Himalaya. Analysis of water along of river longitudinal profile above and below the reservoir suggest that the reservoir caused decrease most of the basic ions concentrations (Cl−, K+, Na+, Mg2+, NO3− and PO43−). An inverse trend was observed only with respect to Ca2+, SO42− and NH4+. The dam does not influent on the F− concentration. The reservoir causes minor enrichment most of the heavy metals such Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cd and Sr. The lower enrichment of Teesta water below the dam indicates the water self-purification processes for metals by the Teesta Reservoir. The changes of physicochemical properties and concentrations of ions caused by the reservoir are usually normalised by environmental factors before the Teesta River outlet from the Himalayas (within 15 km of the river).

Riverbeds Level Changes in the Margin and Foreland of the Darjeeling Himalaya During the Years with a Normal Monsoon Rainfall

The study determines the scale and direction of changes in the riverbeds level within the Darjeeling Himalaya and its foreland, due to overlapping of natural and anthropogenic factors. The analysis is based on the monitoring conducted in the period 2011–2014. Three adjacent rivers, the Lish, Gish and Chel, were selected for the study, tributaries of the Teesta River (a tributary of the Brahmaputra). The results show that the alluvial bed of the Lish and Gish rivers in the Himalayan foreland, tend to show an aggradation of about 3 cm year−1 and 0.5 cm year−1 respectively. On the other hand, in the mountain part of the Chel River with a rocky bottom and in the alluvial riverbed in the Himalayan foreland, a trend was noted for the channel incision of about 1 cm year−1 and 5 cm year−1 respectively. Analysis is of great importance in the context of the assessment of the effects of possible catastrophic floods.

HYDROMORPHOLOGICAL STATE AND HABITAT QUALITY OF MOUNTAIN RIVERS ABOVE AND BELOW RESERVOIRS (THE POLISH CARPATHIANS)

The paper presents the results of studies concerning the assessment of the hydromorphological state and habitat quality of two Carpathian rivers (the Wisłok and Ropa rivers), along sections situated above and below the reservoirs operating in the course of these rivers. The investigation was carried out based on the British method called River Habitat Survey (RHS). On the basis of the data collected, for each study section, synthetic indices HQA (Habitat Quality Assessment) and HMS (Habitat Modification Score), which enable assessment of the river habitat quality, were calculated. The analysis performed indicates that the sections of the Wisłok river considered, both above and below the Besko reservoir, fall into Class 2, which points to a good hydromorphological state and habitat quality. The Ropa river is characterised by moderate hydromorphological state (Class 3) above the Klimkówka reservoir and by good state (Class 2) below its location.

EFFECT OF A RESERVOIR OPERATION ON RELATIONS BETWEEN RIVER WATER TEMPERATURE AND AIR TEMPERATURE

The article presents relations between water temperature in the Ropa river (the Polish Carpathians) and the air temperature in the longitudinal profile of the river, taking into account the distortions resulting from the operation of Klimkówka reservoir. The analysis is based on measurements of water and air temperature of the river upstream and downstream of the reservoir in various air temperature conditions in the daily and annual cycle. The observed disturbances in the relation between water and air temperature result from a transformation of the natural thermal regime of the river downstream of the dam. Therefore, in any research into relations between river water temperature and air temperature, the effect of reservoirs on river water temperature must be taken into consideration. It is important for predicting the impact of potential climate change on river ecosystems.