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This paper aims to evaluate the physical properties of soils on the slope of the spoil heap of the coal mine in Bogdanka based on literature and the author’s opinion. Field soil tests were carried out in the agricultural season of 2018 in the coal mine waste dump. The main purpose is to develop and apply the soil physical quality index. It was the first time when most often used nine soil physical properties: texture, bulk density, MWD, AWC, K, POR, PAW, S, StI. The paper uses a system for assessing physical parameters of soil within the range from 0 to 4. Based on the research, it was found that the best parameters of soil quality occurred in the surface horizons and increased with depth. The SPQI value calculated for the 0-60 cm layer Technosol was 0.51, which indicates good soil parameters.

The paper presents the variability of the Piwonia River flows in the Parczew profile (catchment area of 391 km2) in hydrological years 2009/10-2015/16. Based on monthly flow and daily water level measurements, flow-level curves and hydrograms of water flows were drawn. The analysis of the weather conditions in the catchment area showed that in the analyzed period there were two very wet years (2010, 2014), three wet years (2011, 2013, 2016), one normal year (2012) and one dry year (2015). The total of annual precipitation in very wet years was 150 mm (130% of the norm) higher than the average for multi-years, and in the dry year it was 60 mm (86% of the norm) lower. The intensity of instantaneous flows ranged from 0.26 m3∙s-1 in 2015 to 5.5 m3∙s-1 in 2010. The average annual flow of the river in multi-years was SSQ = 1.68 m3∙s-1 and ranged from 1.19 m3∙s-1 in 2015 (dry in terms of precipitation) to 2.13 m3∙s-1 in 2010 (very wet). The direct reasons for the variability of river flows are: weather conditions, retention capacity of lakes and fish ponds, and exploitation of hydrotechnical structures. The hydrological year 2014/15 was characterized by the highest variability of flows, while in the hydrological year 2010/11 the lowest variability was recorded.

Macrophytes are one of the biological elements for assessing the ecological status. Macrophyte communities were studied in six artificial (drainage canal and ditches) or modified watercourses (regulated rivers). In order to assess the ecological status of the watercourses, studies were carried out with the use of the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR) proposed in the Water Framework Directive. Macrophyte communities were mainly represented by helophytes (12 species in total), and the highest percentage area cover (50–75% of the site) was observed for pleustophytes (Lemna spp.). Macrophytes communities were affected by the gradients of hydromorphological (canal modification, flow type, and shading) and parameters water quality (nutrients and water transparency). The relationships were highly species-specific. In accordance with the MIR values, the ecosystems were classified as having poor (drainage canal), moderate (regulated rivers), or good (drainage ditches) ecological status.

Introducing the European beaver to the catchment area, which adjusts the habitat to its own needs (by building dams), may have a positive impact on the ecology, geology, and hydromorphology of rivers and intensify the water self-purification process. In this study, a comparative assessment of the ecological status was made between the areas where the species Castor fiber L. occurs (habitat type A) and the areas unaffected by the influence (habitat type B). For this purpose, the Macrophyte River Index (MIR) and the Hydromorphological River Index (HIR) were calculated, along with the floristic indicators of biodiversity: species richness and Margalef, Shannon–Wiener, and Simpson indices. Only 35% of the sites met the standard of good ecological status. The presence of hypertrophic species and anthropogenic modifications of the river bed had a negative impact. The spread of beavers has a significant positive effect on changes in hydromorphological conditions and water levels in the river. The water levels in habitat types A and B were 0.504 and 0.253 m, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the HIR values between habitat types A and B, which were 0.585 and 0.535, respectively. In habitats of type A, the heterogeneity of the current and bed material as well as the diversity of elements accompanying the tree stands increased. Research has shown greater species richness and greater biodiversity of macrophytes in the habitats of beaver dams. The research confirmed the significant influence of the European beaver on changes in the environment. The activity of beavers intensifies the processes of introducing wetland and rush species to forest areas.

The quality and potability of waters of the Tyśmienica River Basin were determined in 2017 at eight measuring stations. The paper presents analyses of the physical and chemical parameters of surface waters of the basin. With regard to suspended solids, pH value, electric conductivity, sulphates, ammonia, chlorides and phosphate, the water was classified as having a very good ecological status. In the case of Kjeldahl nitrogen, the waters were classified as having a good ecological status. In the case of the remaining parameters, i.e. BOD, DO, TOC and COD, the status varied among stations. The values of all the physical and chemical parameters complied with the values for undisturbed conditions. Only ammonia and COD showed significant differences among stations. The WPI values for each measuring point ranged from 0.90 to 1.56, what corresponds to the descriptive indicators of moderately polluted water. The high concentrations of COD and TOC indicate that high-performance treatment processes (category A3) must be used to ensure that the water is suitable for drinking.

The development of the side arm edge of the valley-gully in Gałkowice village in the Dwikozy commune (the Opatówka catchment in the Sandomierz Upland) was investigated during the period from 2002 to 2017. An increase of fragmentation of gully edge was found. Most of pre-existing erosive indents increased in size (maximum of 2.8 m - about 0.2 m per year). An increase in the area of the gully by 145 m2 was found. As a result, the boundary of plow tillage has shifted to an average of 1.5 to 2 meters (maximum 3.8 m), which resulted in a loss of 545 m2 of adjacent arable land. As the main reason for the development of the analyzed section of the gully, meltwater flows were considered.

This paper aims to analyze the variability of the surface and ground water levels in Ambona peatlands. The depth at which the ground water table occurred was studied with reference to the adopted land drainage standards. The studies were carried out in 2009/10–2015/16 for natural and regulated water outflows. The analysis of annual total precipitation suggests that in the analyzed period some years were very wet (2009/10 and 2013/14), some were wet (2010/11, 2012/13 and 2015/16), one year was dry (2014/15) and one year was normal (2011/12). The 7-year average seasonal precipitation amounted to 598 mm, which was 71 mm higher than the average precipitation recorded in 30 years. The level of water in the river under adjustable outflow conditions ranged from 55 to 77 cm. The level of water under natural outflow ranged from 18 to 49 cm. In the area with adjustable outflow, the average draining depth was 47 cm. In the remaining area, not covered by the irrigation system, the draining depth was 64 cm. Additionally, the dynamics of variance in the water level under natural outflow conditions was clearly higher.

The aim of this research work is to evaluate changes in the quantities of water and chemical parameters of outflow water from the forest catchment. Research was carried over a hydrological five-year period in the Ochożanka River basin (Western Polesie). The structure of the catchment area of 33.1 km2 is dominated by forestland constituting 81% of the area. During this period the precipitation amounted to 627 mm, which was 100 mm higher than the multi-year average. Precipitation of the summer half-year was almost three times higher than in the winter half-year. Data analysis shows that the average unit outflow from the catchment unit was 3.0 dm3·s−1·km−2. Outflow in the winter half-year was 52% higher than in the summer half-year. The waters of the river are used, they are usually characterized by good chemical status. In case 30% samples concentration of Kjeldahl nitrogen (>2 mg N·dm−3), total phosphorus (>0.4 mg P·dm−3) exceed the limit values for second class quality water. Indicators of oxygen conditions reach medium and high values. In spring, it happens that the limits are exceeded for second class water quality. These values are respectively COD > 20 mg O2·dm−3 and oxygen 2·dm−3. An important issue related to the value parameters is the seasonal variability of their concentration in water outflow from the catchment. The maximum value chemical parameters are recorded in March, when the occurred largest outflows water.

The objective of this study was to examine the vegetation cover and describe the floristic diversity of selected plant communities of extensive and abandoned grasslands within the Forest of Parczew PLB060006 – a Natura 2000 protected area. Floristic surveys were conducted in the meadows in years 2001 and 2013 under the conditions of natural succession of the communities Poa pratensis-Festuca rubra. The area is situated in the northern part of the Lublin Voivodeship, in the physiographic mesoregion the Łęczna-Włodawa Lakeland. Those communities were characterized by average species richness and floristic diversity index values. The cover index decreased considerably in the case of 8 species, and increased for 12 species. A large increase in the cover index of Holcus lanatus, Deschampsia caespitosa, Galium mollugo, Anthriscus sylvestris and Polemonium caeruleae is particularly noteworthy. In 2001, 39 species of plants were recorded in all relevés, compared to 41 species recorded in 2013. Over 12 years, 11 species disappeared, but 13 new ones emerged. For the time being, the average species richness N increased from 12 to 16 per relevé. The biodiversity index H' increased from 2.8 to 3.6.

This paper aims to analyze the variability of the levels of surface and ground water in the Ochożanka basin. The depth at which the ground water table occurred was studied with reference to the adopted land drainage standards. The studies were carried out in 2009/2010–2014/2015 for natural and regulated water outflows. The analysis of annual total precipitation in the analyzed period some years were very wet (2009/2010 and 2013/2014), some of them were wet (2010/2011, 2012/2013), one year was dry (2014/2015) and one year was normal (2011/2012). The six-year average seasonal precipitation amounted to 593 mm, which was 66 mm higher than average precipitation recorded in 30 years. Under regulated outflow conditions the level of water in the river ranged from 55 to 77 cm. The level of water under natural outflow ranged from 18 to 49 cm. In the area with regulated outflow the average ground water level was 47 cm. In the remaining area of drainage system ground water level was 67 cm. Also, the dynamics of variance in the water level under natural outflow conditions was clearly higher.

Hydropower plants in Poland currently use only 19% of the river’s energy potential. Development of hydropower is limited by environmental regulations as well as by economic grounds. From the environmental point of view, it is desirable to build small hydropower plants integrated into the local landscape. This paper presents results of the research aimed at estimating the amount of energy that could be produced in the case of small hydroelectric power plants on weirs existing on the Tyśmienica River. There is also a legal framework that should be adapted at hydropower development. It was calculated that the technical capacity of the small hydropower plants that could be built on 4 existing weirs, is 0.131 MW. These power plants could produce 786 MWh of electricity per year. The economic efficiency of this production is currently difficult to assess, because a new support system for renewable energy sources is currently being implemented, which will be a decisive factor for entrepreneurs. It should be borne in mind that potential investments will be made in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, which may limit their constructing or impose the obligation to assess their impact on selected environmental elements. Location within the protective area does not eliminate such investments, especially when solutions with the least possible environmental impact are used.

The goal of this paper was to evaluate the possibility of using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for inventorying of a hybrid constructed wetland (CW) wastewater treatment plant. The object under study was a turtle-shaped system built in 2015 in Eastern Poland. Its main purpose is the treatment of wastewater from the Museum and Education Centre of Polesie National Park. The study showed that the CW system had been built in compliance with the technical documentation, as differences between values obtained from the object and those given in the design project (max. ± 20 cm for situation and ±5 cm for elevation) were within the range defined by the legislator. It was also shown that the results were sufficiently precise to be used for as-built surveying of the aboveground elements of the CW system. The TLS technique can also be employed to analyse quantitative changes in object geometry arising during long-term use (e.g. landmass slides or erosion), the identification of which can help in selecting the hot-spots at risk of damage and thus restore the object to its original state as well as prevent new changes.

Parameters of agricultural transport network are an important element that affects the operating costs of farms. The proper shape of the road network, suitable density and the quality should provide a opportune and efficient transport between home farm and some of the parcels. The article presents an evaluation of the agricultural road network in the village of Jakubowice Koninskie in the Niemce commune. An inventory of the study area was conducted, and the road density index, the road extension index, and technical parameters (the width of the roads and the type of their surface). When the area of the village of 638 hectares and a total length of roads 35.44 km the road density index was 55 m•ha-1. Due to the surface the largest share in the structure of length are dirt and concrete roads.

The paper presents the history of land cover changes in the catchment area of lakes situated in the headwaters of the Tyśmienica River. The basis of the study were topographic maps in scale 1:50 000, from 1936 and 2014. We analyzed the quantitative aspect of these changes. The study was conducted in three natural lakes (Rogóźno, Krasne, Łukcze), and in one lake transformed into a storage reservoir (Krzczeń). The technical issues of georeferencing maps in the Geographic Information System (GIS) software are addressed first. In the landscape of Łęczna and Włodawa Lake District, to the end of the 19th century wetlands and bushes dominated. The first type of human pressure on this area was agriculture. Another type of pressure was recreation. In the catchment areas of studied lakes increased mainly the area of buildings and forests. Significantly increased also the length of roads and watercourses. Almost completely disappeared bushes and wastelands. In most of the analyzed basins, the area of wetlands and arable lands decreased. The probable cause of the changes in catchment use was decline in the water table, and thus overgrowing of meadows and wetlands.

The aim of the study was to analyze the results of surface water quality tests carried out in the Bystrzyca river basin. The study was conducted over four years in four seasons. The following chemometric techniques were used for the purposes of statistical analyses: the principal component analysis with factor analysis (PCA/FA), the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and the discriminant analysis (DA). The analyses allowed for determining the temporal variability in water quality between the seasons. The best water quality was recorded in summer and the worst in autumn. The analyses did not provide a clear assessment of the spatial variability of water quality in the river basin. Pollution from wastewater treatment plants and soil tillage had a similar effect on water quality. The tested samples were characterized by very high electrolytic conductivity, suspended solids and P-PO4 concentrations and the water quality did not meet the standards of good ecological status.

The Łęczna-Włodawa Lake District is one of the most valuable natural regions in Europe. It is an area of numerous lakes, peat bogs, swamps and forests, which has been undergoing intensive transformation for decades. Among the largest projects were the creation of the Wieprz Krzna Canal system along with the drainage system and the transformation of natural lakes into retention reservoirs. Among the transformed lakes is Lake Wytyckie. The land was used for analyses near the lake, and floristic and habitat analyses were carried out within the boundaries of the contemporary embankment. The studies were carried out from the 1950s, when the lake functioned as a natural reservoir, through to the 1980s (the transformation of the lake), to the 2020s. Lake Wytyckie was transformed into a retention reservoir by increasing its size and flooding the areas inhabited mainly by peat bog, meadow and forest vegetation, which contributed to the impoverishment of both species and habitat diversity of the area, while it increased the nutrient richness of the water. This was reflected both in the decline in the value of individual diversity indices as well as in the ecological index numbers. In the first period of the research, the area was dominated by wetlands, not drained, with a large variety of species that preferred good lighting conditions. Additionally, the habitat was characterized by low reaction, temperature and trophic values. In the following period, there was an increase in the depth of the water of the reservoir, characterized by high water visibility values, which contributed to the presence of protected species, as did the low moisture content of the areas within the embankment and a neutral pH. The factors currently influencing the formation of the vegetation structure are the high humidity of the entire embankment area, the increase in pH, and the significant increase in the share of built-up areas in the immediate vicinity.

The quality of surface water in watercourses in the region of Lublin agglomeration was studied in 2012–2014. Biological and chemical indicators of the study for various sampling sites were detected and the resulting values of the indicators were processed statistically. Rivers characterized by small size and the flow and modification of the riverbed. The resulting low values of macrophyte river index and infusorial index pointed to a poor quality of surface waters. Chemical indicators of the quality of surface waters reached low values, only BOD and phosphates reached high values. The river is located outside the city and it is characterized by moderate potential ecological (III quality class), and the river within Lublin is insufficiently potential ecological (IV quality class). Statistical analysis showed high variability index values between the studied positions.

The work evaluates the effect of anthropogenic pollutants on the quality of water in Lake Bialskie (51º32’07” N 23º00’55” E) and its catchment basin. Samples of water were taken from the lake (4 sampling points) and from wells dug within the catchment basin. The quality of water was analysed in May, June, August and November 2015. In the wells only in single cases was the level of chemical pollution found to exceed drinking water standards. However, in all samples the standard content of manganese was exceeded. In waters from the lake the concentrations of total phosphorus, which can contribute to eutrophication were recorded above the standard level. Both in waters from the lake and from the well a large count of meso- and psychrophiles and Coli and faecal coliforms as well as faecal Enterococci was found, which points to a high degree of contamination of the analysed waters with anthropogenic faeces. The phenomenon was observed to intensify in summer months, which can be associated with increased tourist traffic around the lake in this period.

The paper presents the results studies on the intensity of water erosion processes in the road gully in Gorzków on the Lublin Upland. The study program was based mainly on field determinations including the intensity of water erosion processes, taking into account the types and size of erosion damage. During the studies, three surface washouts that led to erosion damage were registered. Erosion damage in a form of rills on the bottom of gully, during the studies, amounted to 64.2 m3, and the volume of precipitated soil material on the bottom of gully and the roadside ditch was 70 m3.

The object of study is to analyze the size of the components of the water balance in irrigated river valleys micro-catchments of diverse habitats. The study used the results of research and field observations from the years 2010–2012. Carried out investigations of two small lowland catchments indicate significant impact of meteorological conditions as well as habitats on runoff index, retention changes in analyzed hydrological years. Catchment ditch K-2 is located in Piwonia river basin, and ditch the Z-6 is located in Bystrzyca river basin. The highest rates occurred in the first half of the outflow year 2009/10, and have been DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15576/ASP.FC/2014.13.4.5

The paper presents the degree of subsidence in stratigraphic transects and a change in soil morphology. The degree of subsidence was determined based on direct geodetic measurements taken in 1974 and 2012 and additionally with the use of empirical relationships of subsidence with the depth of drainage and peat properties. The histic horizon is built of peat thickness of 3 m on the Sosnowica and 0.64 m on the Uhnin. The value of subsidence of Histosol, measured by geodetic means, ranged from 9 to 33 cm, while that of Gleysol from 0 to 4 cm. The mean value of subsidence of the peatland in Sosnowica amounted to 24 cm over 38 years, which gives a degree of subsidence of 0.6 cm year−1, i.e. a loss of peat mass amounting to 11.5% of the total resources. The situation is still worse in the case of the peatland in Uhnin, where mineralization and a fire of the peatland caused the peatland area to shrink by 36%. The loss of peat mass, including loss due to fire, accounted for 53% of the total resources, which corresponds to a degree of subsidence of 0.35 cm year−1. In engineering practice, the degree of subsidence can only be determined according to Jurczuk’s formula taking into account environmental factors and the passage of time.

The intensity of transpiration depends on many environmental factors including light, temperature, wind, and air humidity. By eliminating the variation of these factors under laboratory conditions, an attempt was made to indicate the intensity of this process among different species of helophytes and are there any factors limiting this process. We performed a field study of some shallow lakes to answer the question: what is the role of emergent macrophytes in evapotranspiration in lakes with different trophy and surface. Field works were carried out in the shallow littoral at the peak of the growing season. Under laboratory conditions five species were analysing in respect of water uptake. Under laboratory conditions, the width, length and number of leaves as well as the mass and diameter of the stems of respective species had the most significant effect on the uptake of water by helophytes. The length of the plant was a characteristic with the least significant impact on water uptake. The presence of inflorescence was highly negatively correlated with the amount of water taken up by the plants. This phenomenon may slow down the process of water uptake by plants. Among the analyzed factors affecting the uptake of water in the shallow lakes of the Łęczna-Włodawa Lake District, the most important effect was the area of rushes, their density and lake trophic type. In contrast, the type of lake supply, surface of the lake and the variety of helophytes proved to be irrelevant to the amount of water uptake. Helophytes play a significant role in the uptake of water. The share of Typha rushes significantly increases transpiration.

This paper presents the characteristics of the chemistry of surface and ground water in the bottom of the river valley reclaimed Ochoza. Drained grassland accounts for 20% of the total catchment area and are located on organic soils in the valley Tyśmienica classified to the Natura 2000 sites. Analysis of physico-chemical properties of water are to assess the effects of anthropogenic transformation and identify factors that influence water quality in the study area. Water samples were collected in the years 2011–2012 in several points. The walls were characterized by surface water stagnant in the trenches, in July, blueberry plantation. Characterized by the highest quality of surface water runoff river with the test object. Occurring here throughout the growing season water flow reed growing on the bed and temporary impoundment of water contribute to the self-cleaning effect of water. Conducted at different times of the growing season (winter, spring, summer, autumn) of water chemistry analysis allows to assess the impact of vegetation on the process of self-purification of water. Based on the survey it was found that the river is reduced by 26% BOD 5, COD by 37%, 12% phosphate and potassium by 13%. Concurrently, an increase in the content of nitrogen compounds – ammonia at 27% and 15% nitrate. The increase in the content of nitrogen compounds is particularly evident in the bottom of the object, which is probably associated with the deep trench causing excessive drying of the soil. The highest values of pollutants were recorded mostly in the spring probably due to the outflow of water from the drans.

The paper presents the history of water conditions in the catchment area of the river Tyśmienica. On the basis of topographic maps in scale 1 : 100 000 1839 to 2009, and drainage projects presents the changes of the water network. In the middle 19th century, the river took the start from the lake Krzczeń, and major reclamation works were performed at the turn of the century. In the seventeenth century, built the largest pond Siemień. The development of the joint occurred after World One War because the existence of joints protect assets before breaking up. The biggest changes in water relations occurred in the years 1954 to 1961, when it built Wieprz – Krzna Canal in the valley created several objects drainage area of about 15 000 ha. In the 60’s the water channel beginning the Tyśmienica led passing to the east of Lake Krzczeń and Rogóźno. As a result of hydrotechnical works, the length of the river increased from 62 to 74,5 km, and its beginning was shifted to lake Rogóźno. The surface area of the catchment basin of the river at the beginning of the 18th century was 2000 km2, while at present, at the beginning of the 21st century it is 2750 km2.

This paper compares two spatial interpolation techniques – Radial Basis Functions (RBF) and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) – with the goal of determining which method creates the best representation of reality for measured groundwater levels in catchment area. The study used the results of research and field observations from the year 2011, in Sosnowica (West Polesie). The data set consists of groundwater levels measured at 15 points in three series of tests. Surface generation was obtained for each method. The water prediction maps showed spatial variation in the groundwater level in the study area and they are quite different. RBF method resulted in a smoother map. The analysis of the methods of interpolation of analyzed data with the help of cross validation statistics and plots showed that Radial Basis Functions creates better representation of reality for measured groundwater levels.

The aim of this study is to present the application of statistical methods to assess the possibility of grouping precipitation according to their elevation above sea level and precipitation levels in the temperate climate of Poland. The country was divided into regions with similar levels of precipitation using cluster analysis by Ward’s method. The study was performed with meteorological data on average monthly precipitation of 53 meteorological stations from 1981 to 2010. The selection of stations was dictated by the need to consider the variability in amounts of annual precipitation throughout the country. The data was used to calculate average annual precipitation total as well as average precipitation total in the summer half-year (from May to October) and the winter half-year (from November to April) for Poland, from 1981 to 2010. Statistical method was performed and six clusters were generated, for the elevation of the stations and average annual precipitation as well as average precipitation for hydrological half-years. The average annual precipitation for the clusters ranged from 530 mm (cluster 5) to 820 mm (cluster 2). The average precipitation for the winter hydrological half-year ranged from 190.1 mm (cluster 1) to 288.8 mm (cluster 5). The average precipitation for the summer hydrological half-year ranged from 326.3 mm (cluster 5) to 605 mm (cluster 2). The conclusions from the analysis carried out in the study are that: (1) grouping by means of Ward’s method can be used to distinguish homogeneous areas with the same levels of precipitation; (2) both precipitation and the elevation, at which meteorological stations are located, are the basis for distinguishing clusters in Ward’s method.

W pracy przedstawiono analizę dynamiki warunków wodnych gleby MtIbb na obiekcie melioracyjnym Piwonia Górna I w dolinie rzeki Piwonia na Pojezierzu Łęczyńsko-Włodawskim. Analizie zostały poddane wyniki badań hydrologicznych i glebowych prowadzonych w przekroju hydrometrycznym w latach 2004–2007 w okresie wegetacji. Obiekt, który dysponuje głównie lokalnymi zasobami wody pochodzącymi z opadów atmosferycznych, pomimo znacznych opadów letnich po długich okresach suszy charakteryzował się niewielkim podniesieniem poziomu zalegania zwierciadła wody. Układ zwierciadła wody związany jest z oddziaływaniem odprowadzalnika wody. Mimo niekorzystnych warunków meteorologicznych i złego stanu urządzeń melioracyjnych nie wystąpiły nadmiary ani niedobory wody w glebie.