254
M. Gor˛ aczko
13.1 Introduction
Withdrawing flood waters leave on the surface of the terrain and structures affected
by its visible signs, allowing an accurate visual determination of the maximum levels
reached by the water [1]. These maximum heights are even more recognizable, as
during floods, rivers carry significant amounts of both mineral and organic material
(including ice during the cold seasons), as well as various objects captured by the
river. In most cases, these marks gradually vanish as the terrain or structure continue
to be exposed to sunlight and wind, as well as undergo repairs conducted by the
population of the affected area. In some cases, however, commemorating the tragic
and yet spectacular events of the flood, the maximum height reached by the water
is being marked by people – by leaving a scoff mark, painting or drawing a line,
etc. These provisory marks have often been transformed into more permanent high
watermarks indicating in a clear and obvious way the maximum level reached by the
water. High watermark is defined as a permanent sign marking of the height reached
by the flood (the maximum water level), including an obvious indicator – a line, an
arrow, edge of the plaque, etc. [2, 3].
13.2 The Current Stage of Research of High Watermarks
in Poland
Mentions of high watermarks can be found in dozens of articles discussing the flood
risks in Poland. They are particularly present in the ones that present the problem
of floods in the context of a specific region or locality [4, 5]. This fact should not
come as a surprise, but rather as a proof that the problem of floods has been present
in the life of communities inhabiting the river valleys in Poland for centuries. It is
worth mentioning here the authors who in their research focused on cataloging the
high watermarks. In terms of the administrative regions, the most detailed works
have been made for Krakow [6, 7], Pozna´ n [2, 8–12], Gdansk [13, 14], Toru´ n [3] and
Bydgoszcz [15], while the ones describing the phenomenon from the perspective of
hydrographic regions are most detailed for the Vistula River [3, 16–20].
In the past, gathering information about the existing flood marks came was one
of the tasks performed by the national hydro-meteorological service. Records were
being created for all the existing and newly erected high watermarks, describing the
dimensions and characteristics of these marks, situational map and the origins of the
flood. The standard was to relate the high watermarks to the national terrestrial reference system [22]. Archives created according to this methodology can be found in
the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management of the National Research Institute in Warsaw, where they are still pending a proper comprehensive elaboration.
In later years, a significant effort toward the popularization and increase of knowledge about high water marks was the project ‘Znaki Wielkich Wód’ (‘High Water
Marks’), conducted by professor Marek Grze´ s from Nicolaus Copernicus University
M. Gor˛ aczko
13.1 Introduction
Withdrawing flood waters leave on the surface of the terrain and structures affected
by its visible signs, allowing an accurate visual determination of the maximum levels
reached by the water [1]. These maximum heights are even more recognizable, as
during floods, rivers carry significant amounts of both mineral and organic material
(including ice during the cold seasons), as well as various objects captured by the
river. In most cases, these marks gradually vanish as the terrain or structure continue
to be exposed to sunlight and wind, as well as undergo repairs conducted by the
population of the affected area. In some cases, however, commemorating the tragic
and yet spectacular events of the flood, the maximum height reached by the water
is being marked by people – by leaving a scoff mark, painting or drawing a line,
etc. These provisory marks have often been transformed into more permanent high
watermarks indicating in a clear and obvious way the maximum level reached by the
water. High watermark is defined as a permanent sign marking of the height reached
by the flood (the maximum water level), including an obvious indicator – a line, an
arrow, edge of the plaque, etc. [2, 3].
13.2 The Current Stage of Research of High Watermarks
in Poland
Mentions of high watermarks can be found in dozens of articles discussing the flood
risks in Poland. They are particularly present in the ones that present the problem
of floods in the context of a specific region or locality [4, 5]. This fact should not
come as a surprise, but rather as a proof that the problem of floods has been present
in the life of communities inhabiting the river valleys in Poland for centuries. It is
worth mentioning here the authors who in their research focused on cataloging the
high watermarks. In terms of the administrative regions, the most detailed works
have been made for Krakow [6, 7], Pozna´ n [2, 8–12], Gdansk [13, 14], Toru´ n [3] and
Bydgoszcz [15], while the ones describing the phenomenon from the perspective of
hydrographic regions are most detailed for the Vistula River [3, 16–20].
In the past, gathering information about the existing flood marks came was one
of the tasks performed by the national hydro-meteorological service. Records were
being created for all the existing and newly erected high watermarks, describing the
dimensions and characteristics of these marks, situational map and the origins of the
flood. The standard was to relate the high watermarks to the national terrestrial reference system [22]. Archives created according to this methodology can be found in
the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management of the National Research Institute in Warsaw, where they are still pending a proper comprehensive elaboration.
In later years, a significant effort toward the popularization and increase of knowledge about high water marks was the project ‘Znaki Wielkich Wód’ (‘High Water
Marks’), conducted by professor Marek Grze´ s from Nicolaus Copernicus University