122
P. Jokiel and Z. Michalczyk
held in 1996: the hydrological conference in Łód´ z: Springs and their role in the environment and their importance in water economy, and the hydrobiological conference
in Olsztyn: The springs of Poland, status of research, monitoring, and protection.
Subsequent events dedicated to the subject were held in Łód´ z: The springs of Poland
– selected crenological problems [50] and in Białystok: The springs of Poland –
the refugium of geo- and biodiversity. Field studies over the years have resulted in
published papers on springs in various regions, for instance, in the West Tatras [51,
52], the Pieniny [53–55], in several mountain chains of the Sudetes [44, 56–60],
of the West and East Beskids [61–66], of central Poland [67, 68], of the KrakówWielu´ n Jura and the Miechów Jura [69–71], the Małopolska Upland [72–74], the
Lublin Upland and Roztocze [75–81], the vicinity of Łód´ z [82], of Wielkopolska
[83–87], the lake districts [88–92] (Fig. 7.7).
Springs and other ground water outflows have also been taken into account and
examined, sometimes thoroughly and in many aspects, within the spatial nature
protection units in Poland, including national parks [93–95], landscape parks [96,
97], as well as NATURA 2000 areas and nature reserves [89]. Springs are increasingly
recognized in Poland as nature monuments which are protected by law [98–102] or as
ecological sites, although the process continues to involve legal and subject-matter
problems. In the recent handbook on Poland’s hydrology (Hydrologia Polski – in
Polish), one of the chapters is dedicated to the springs of Poland [103].
7.3 The Importance of Springs
In the natural environment of Poland, springs can be found at various topographic
locations, and they have differently shaped niches and outflow points. They also differ
in the lithology and tectonics of aquifers, dynamics, and forms of water outflows,
as well as in the physico-chemical parameters of their water. The niches and waters
of Polish springs are also inhabited by numerous and very interesting organisms. In
consequence, the springs of Poland are highly diversified, crucial for maintaining bioand geodiversity, and have many different functions and numerous environmental,
cultural and social values, which overlap, thus strengthening their importance as
places attracting the interest of many scientific and practical disciplines. Thus, for
a long time now, the springs in Poland have been used for various purposes outline
below.
Subjects of scientific research. Due to the historical, cultural, and economic importance of places where water of good quality can be found, the springs are an attractive
subject of interest to specialists representing different scientific disciplines, including
life sciences, engineering, and the arts, as well as many other fields. For many
years now, the springs understood as natural outflows of ground waters have been
the subject of geographical and geological studies. The detailed information about
them is usually provided when describing environmental features of a given area,
and conditions for use of mineral materials found there. It usually specifies water
P. Jokiel and Z. Michalczyk
held in 1996: the hydrological conference in Łód´ z: Springs and their role in the environment and their importance in water economy, and the hydrobiological conference
in Olsztyn: The springs of Poland, status of research, monitoring, and protection.
Subsequent events dedicated to the subject were held in Łód´ z: The springs of Poland
– selected crenological problems [50] and in Białystok: The springs of Poland –
the refugium of geo- and biodiversity. Field studies over the years have resulted in
published papers on springs in various regions, for instance, in the West Tatras [51,
52], the Pieniny [53–55], in several mountain chains of the Sudetes [44, 56–60],
of the West and East Beskids [61–66], of central Poland [67, 68], of the KrakówWielu´ n Jura and the Miechów Jura [69–71], the Małopolska Upland [72–74], the
Lublin Upland and Roztocze [75–81], the vicinity of Łód´ z [82], of Wielkopolska
[83–87], the lake districts [88–92] (Fig. 7.7).
Springs and other ground water outflows have also been taken into account and
examined, sometimes thoroughly and in many aspects, within the spatial nature
protection units in Poland, including national parks [93–95], landscape parks [96,
97], as well as NATURA 2000 areas and nature reserves [89]. Springs are increasingly
recognized in Poland as nature monuments which are protected by law [98–102] or as
ecological sites, although the process continues to involve legal and subject-matter
problems. In the recent handbook on Poland’s hydrology (Hydrologia Polski – in
Polish), one of the chapters is dedicated to the springs of Poland [103].
7.3 The Importance of Springs
In the natural environment of Poland, springs can be found at various topographic
locations, and they have differently shaped niches and outflow points. They also differ
in the lithology and tectonics of aquifers, dynamics, and forms of water outflows,
as well as in the physico-chemical parameters of their water. The niches and waters
of Polish springs are also inhabited by numerous and very interesting organisms. In
consequence, the springs of Poland are highly diversified, crucial for maintaining bioand geodiversity, and have many different functions and numerous environmental,
cultural and social values, which overlap, thus strengthening their importance as
places attracting the interest of many scientific and practical disciplines. Thus, for
a long time now, the springs in Poland have been used for various purposes outline
below.
Subjects of scientific research. Due to the historical, cultural, and economic importance of places where water of good quality can be found, the springs are an attractive
subject of interest to specialists representing different scientific disciplines, including
life sciences, engineering, and the arts, as well as many other fields. For many
years now, the springs understood as natural outflows of ground waters have been
the subject of geographical and geological studies. The detailed information about
them is usually provided when describing environmental features of a given area,
and conditions for use of mineral materials found there. It usually specifies water