21 Updates, Conclusions, and Recommendations for “Management …
421
and projections of future climate changes has been conducted by various authors
[1–5].
Along with climate change, we are increasingly dealing with the occurrence of
extreme hydrological phenomena such as floods and droughts [6]. To reduce the risk
of flooding, it is necessary to increase retention within the catchment area by building
water reservoirs, dry polders, but also by changing land use, which will delay surface
runoff [7]. In the coming decades, the risk of drought is expected to increase, which
will affect the reduction of flowing water resources and the reduction of groundwater
resources. Prolonged drought can lead to water deficits, which are already felt in the
area of Kujawy (central Poland) [8]. As a result, they lead to significant losses in
agriculture, industry and transport.
Research on Polish water resources has a long tradition. They focus on assessing
the size of water resources and their changes under the influence of natural and
anthropogenic factors [9]. The research includes the analysis of the impact of selected
meteorological elements on changes in river outflow from large river basins, e.g. the
Vistula, Oder, Warta, Narew [10–13]. Many researchers in Poland [14–20] dealt with
the problems of changes in the hydrological regime of the Polish rivers. From the
point of view of the use of water resources in various sectors of the national economy,
studies and analyzes regarding maximum and minimum flows for both small and
large watercourses in Poland are extremely important [21–23]. An important goal
of hydrological research is to understand processes and counteract negative effects.
This will allow for the development of watercourse managers’ behavior in climate
change conditions and the rational use of water resources.
The following are the major updates for water resources management in Poland
based on the main book theme.
1. The organizational structure of water management in Poland, was not conducive
to the sustainable development of water management. It resulted mainly
from two institutions dealing with water management, which functioned in
the administrative and sub-basin divisions. The new institution dealing with
water management, Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie, has been
operating since 2018 and its focus is only on the catchment area.
2. Water resources in Poland (both in quantitative and qualitative aspect) are related
to geological structure, surface relief and climatic conditions. The water safety
of the country requires the maintenance of the quantity and quality of water
resources on a good level and effective protection against the effects of drought
and floods.
3. Two usually co-occurring factors are considered to be responsible for the process
of the decline of lakes, and therefore also their water resources: (i) water level
fluctuations, contributing to changes in the surface area; (ii) aggregation of
sediments, can occur through: accumulation of biogenic mass, precipitation of
chemical compounds; sedimentation of sediments, effect of aeolian processes.
4. Lakes located in river valleys, created as a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes, are an important and underestimated element of water
retention.
421
and projections of future climate changes has been conducted by various authors
[1–5].
Along with climate change, we are increasingly dealing with the occurrence of
extreme hydrological phenomena such as floods and droughts [6]. To reduce the risk
of flooding, it is necessary to increase retention within the catchment area by building
water reservoirs, dry polders, but also by changing land use, which will delay surface
runoff [7]. In the coming decades, the risk of drought is expected to increase, which
will affect the reduction of flowing water resources and the reduction of groundwater
resources. Prolonged drought can lead to water deficits, which are already felt in the
area of Kujawy (central Poland) [8]. As a result, they lead to significant losses in
agriculture, industry and transport.
Research on Polish water resources has a long tradition. They focus on assessing
the size of water resources and their changes under the influence of natural and
anthropogenic factors [9]. The research includes the analysis of the impact of selected
meteorological elements on changes in river outflow from large river basins, e.g. the
Vistula, Oder, Warta, Narew [10–13]. Many researchers in Poland [14–20] dealt with
the problems of changes in the hydrological regime of the Polish rivers. From the
point of view of the use of water resources in various sectors of the national economy,
studies and analyzes regarding maximum and minimum flows for both small and
large watercourses in Poland are extremely important [21–23]. An important goal
of hydrological research is to understand processes and counteract negative effects.
This will allow for the development of watercourse managers’ behavior in climate
change conditions and the rational use of water resources.
The following are the major updates for water resources management in Poland
based on the main book theme.
1. The organizational structure of water management in Poland, was not conducive
to the sustainable development of water management. It resulted mainly
from two institutions dealing with water management, which functioned in
the administrative and sub-basin divisions. The new institution dealing with
water management, Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie, has been
operating since 2018 and its focus is only on the catchment area.
2. Water resources in Poland (both in quantitative and qualitative aspect) are related
to geological structure, surface relief and climatic conditions. The water safety
of the country requires the maintenance of the quantity and quality of water
resources on a good level and effective protection against the effects of drought
and floods.
3. Two usually co-occurring factors are considered to be responsible for the process
of the decline of lakes, and therefore also their water resources: (i) water level
fluctuations, contributing to changes in the surface area; (ii) aggregation of
sediments, can occur through: accumulation of biogenic mass, precipitation of
chemical compounds; sedimentation of sediments, effect of aeolian processes.
4. Lakes located in river valleys, created as a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes, are an important and underestimated element of water
retention.