LAND DEGRADATION PROCESSES IN THE CHATCHMENT OF STEMNIC RIVER (BUDA)

Abstract

The present paper proposes a study of the land degradation processes in the catchment of Stemnic river (Buda). Also, there is an analysis of the control factors, a differentiation of the degradation processes, their distribution and intensity, the evaluation of the impact upon the environment. The cumulated action of the natural factors, especially the coupling of the Kersonian sandy – clayey facies and the anthropogenic ones resulted in triggering degradation processes. Among these, the most frequent are: landslides, soil erosion, gullying and alluviation. The landslides represent the most relevant geomorphologic process in Stemnic basin (Buda), affecting 45% of the basin’s surface, predominantly being stabilized landslides, spread especially on the cuesta fronts. The recent maximum rainy period in Moldavian Plateau (1968 - 1973) provoked the significant reactivation of the landslides: 2% (330 ha). After 1982, because of the extended period of aridization, the landslides stabilized. The soil erosion exhibits at different intensities on slope lands that exceed 5%, having an extended spread in the studied catchment. The gullying is less spread in the studied area, occupying only 64 ha, with slope and valley floor gullies. By soil erosion, gullying and landslides significant quantities of solid material are carried to the base of the slopes, although the sedimentation average rate remains low.