Chapter 16
Water Management in the Pomeranian
Rivers Estuary Zone on the Background
of Hydro-meteorological Conditions
Joanna Fac-Beneda, Izabela Chlost, and Alicja Olszewska
Abstract The modern hydrographic system of Pomerania has been inherited from
the postglacial water system. The outflow system, transformed today as a result
of erosion and accumulation of rainwater and snowmelt, overlaps with both this
inherited drainage system and human activities. A key role in forming the water
conditions of the Pomeranian rivers, and especially their estuary sections, is played
by the main (Baltic Sea) and regional (coastal lakes) drainage bases. The temporal
variability of water resources manifested in their seasonal abundance and resulting
from the excessive inflow of allochthonous waters or inhibition in free flow, characteristic for the conditions of the geographical environment of Pomerania, bring
flood risks. In the preliminary flood risk assessment, it was necessary to designate
risk areas, i.e. those where there is a significant risk of flooding or where high risk
is likely to occur. From the point of view of flood prevention, buffer and strategic
investments are of great importance which include the reconstruction of old and
construction of new flood embankments, engineering channels and construction of
flow regulating devices, strengthening of river banks, as well as the construction of
retention reservoirs and development of valley retention. No less important are the
increase of retention through afforestation, counteracting water erosion in lowland
areas, restoration of riverbeds and riverbanks, increasing retention in urban areas.
Keywords Water management · Poland · Pomeranian catchments · Estuary zone ·
Flood risk · Water pollution
J. Fac-Beneda (B) · I. Chlost · A. Olszewska
Department of Hydrology, Institute of Geography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography,
University of Gda´ nsk, Ba˙ zy´ nskiego str.4, 80-309 Gda´ nsk, Poland
e-mail: joanna.fac-beneda@ug.edu.pl
I. Chlost
e-mail: izabela.chlost@ug.edu.pl
A. Olszewska
e-mail: alicja.olszewska@ug.edu.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_16
305
Water Management in the Pomeranian
Rivers Estuary Zone on the Background
of Hydro-meteorological Conditions
Joanna Fac-Beneda, Izabela Chlost, and Alicja Olszewska
Abstract The modern hydrographic system of Pomerania has been inherited from
the postglacial water system. The outflow system, transformed today as a result
of erosion and accumulation of rainwater and snowmelt, overlaps with both this
inherited drainage system and human activities. A key role in forming the water
conditions of the Pomeranian rivers, and especially their estuary sections, is played
by the main (Baltic Sea) and regional (coastal lakes) drainage bases. The temporal
variability of water resources manifested in their seasonal abundance and resulting
from the excessive inflow of allochthonous waters or inhibition in free flow, characteristic for the conditions of the geographical environment of Pomerania, bring
flood risks. In the preliminary flood risk assessment, it was necessary to designate
risk areas, i.e. those where there is a significant risk of flooding or where high risk
is likely to occur. From the point of view of flood prevention, buffer and strategic
investments are of great importance which include the reconstruction of old and
construction of new flood embankments, engineering channels and construction of
flow regulating devices, strengthening of river banks, as well as the construction of
retention reservoirs and development of valley retention. No less important are the
increase of retention through afforestation, counteracting water erosion in lowland
areas, restoration of riverbeds and riverbanks, increasing retention in urban areas.
Keywords Water management · Poland · Pomeranian catchments · Estuary zone ·
Flood risk · Water pollution
J. Fac-Beneda (B) · I. Chlost · A. Olszewska
Department of Hydrology, Institute of Geography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography,
University of Gda´ nsk, Ba˙ zy´ nskiego str.4, 80-309 Gda´ nsk, Poland
e-mail: joanna.fac-beneda@ug.edu.pl
I. Chlost
e-mail: izabela.chlost@ug.edu.pl
A. Olszewska
e-mail: alicja.olszewska@ug.edu.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_16
305