Geomorphological Effects of River Valleys Anthropogenic Transformations in the Perznica Catchment During the Last 200 Years (Drawsko Lakeland, Parsęta River Basin)

Józef Szpikowski

doi:10.2478/v10117-011-0010-4

Abstract

Geomorphological Effects of River Valleys Anthropogenic Transformations in the Perznica Catchment During the Last 200 Years (Drawsko Lakeland, Parsęta River Basin) The studies on geomorphological aspects of environmental changes in the river valleys were part of the work carried out under the diagnosis of anthropogenic transformation of the relief of the Perznica basin (West Pomerania, Drawsko Lakeland). Human interference in the river valleys and anthropogenic changes in the natural hydrological systems in the Perznica catchment influenced the transformation of the relief and the intensity of morphogenetic processes. Numerous anthropogenic landforms were formed, including embankments, dams, dykes along the canals, ditches and canals, reservoirs basins, and peat excavations. The drainage resulted in an intensification of the river erosion, straightening, shortening and increase of the river gradient, as well as the increase of quantity of the suspended matter leaving the catchments. An increase of anthropogenic denudation on agricultural lands, due to the entering of the crops grown on drained depressions and valleys, led to the masking of the original relief with deluvial sediments and the formation and expansion of agricultural terraces on the edge of the fields.

Highlights

Human interference in the river valleys and anthropogenic changes in the natural hydrological systems in the Perznica catchment influenced the transformation of the relief and the intensity of morphogenetic processes
An increase of anthropogenic denudation on agricultural lands, due to the entering of the crops grown on drained depressions and valleys, led to the masking of the original relief with deluvial sediments and the formation and expansion of agricultural terraces on the edge of the fields
An anthropopressure on the geographic environment is reflected in a particular way in the changes occurring in river valleys

Summary

Introduction

An anthropopressure on the geographic environment is reflected in a particular way in the changes occurring in river valleys. Human interference in river valleys directly affects the size and dynamics of flow in channels and drains from the catchments (Kostrzewski et al 1994, Gutry-Korycka 1999). It leads to changes in hydrological regime. The first important anthropogenic changes of the geographical environment in the river valleys of Central Pomerania are associated with the construction of water mills. Landscape of the relief and the location in the north-eastern part of the Parsęta lobe, make most of the rivers in the Perznica catchment flow from northeast to southwest, or east to west. The average runoff in the Pomerania, from Połczyn Zdrój to Kartuzy, is the highest in the Polish Lowlands and amounts to 10–15 dm s–1 km–2 (Kozłowski 1994)

Material and methods

Findings

Conclusions