Return to Nature: Renaturisation of Dried-Out Lakes in Poland

Abstract

Over the centuries, extensive changes have occurred in the functioning of the hydrosphere. In the case of Poland, the hydrographic network has been significantly transformed, and many of its elements have ceased to exist. The aim of this study was to investigate renaturalised lakes and to determine their original volume, which is a fundamental parameter in the context of stabilising water relationships. Based on archival cartographic materials, the locations of 15 such lakes were determined, with their volume totaling 11.7 million m3. This indicates a significant potential for renaturalised lakes in the context of increasing water resources. In the long term, the methodology adopted in this work may complement water-management efforts aimed at increasing retention and offering new ecosystem services. Such an approach is less invasive to the natural environment and more economically justified compared to new investments in artificial hydrotechnical infrastructure.