Estimation of the Minimum flow of Small Rivers of Prykarpattia (on the Example of the Zhizhava and Berezhnytsia Rivers) Using Current Maps of Its Distribution

Abstract

Summary The minimum flow of water in rivers refers to dangerous hydrological processes, which characterizes low-water conditions, when the river is fed mainly by groundwater or sometimes receives inflow from rains or from melting snow during winter thaws. Due to the low-water phase, which continues to this day, rivers, even in relatively water-supplied regions, can form a much smaller flow (and sometimes even dry up) when forming their minimum flow. At the same time, during the water management use of these water bodies, periods of minimum flow are quite limiting for the use of their water resources. It is also worth noting that the minimum water flow of the rivers of the Carpathian region is poorly researched, because due to excessive wetting of the territory, more attention is paid to the maximum water flow of this region. At the same time, recently very low thresholds have been noted in this area. The above situation is typical for the small rivers of Prykarpattia in general and Zhizhava and Berezhnytsia in particular. Both of these rivers can be classified as small. At the same time, they are right tributaries of the Stryi River and flow into it near (a little to the west) the city of Stryi. The assessment of the minimum flow of these rivers is determined by their current and prospective water management use.