Prof. dr hab. inż. Antoni T. Miler

Mgr Marek Dobroczyński

RESULTS OF FLOODPLAIN FORESTS PROTECTION IN THE UROCZYSKO WARTA, THE WIELKOPOLSKA REGION, POLAND

The Uroczysko Warta is one of the most important riparian forest areas in Poland. The construction of the Jeziorsko reservoir resulted in changes in the Warta river hydrological regimes. This in turn led to a reduction in the floodplain area and flooding frequency, which as a consequence has had a dramatically detrimental effect on the floodplain forests in that wilderness. Riparian forests are among the richest and most beautiful forest ecosystems. Unfortunately, river regulation and flood control measures result in their degradation. In Poland only 0.2% total area is covered by riparian forests. The Uroczysko Warta is one of the most important groups of these habitats not only in Poland, but also on the European scale. It was assumed that the implementation of simple land and water system restoration systems - gates, barrages, culverts with backwater valve gates - may promote recreation of advantageous hydrological relations. This study presents results of water monitoring in the Uroczysko Warta Wilderness and the volume of deadwood formed as a consequence of hydrometeorological conditions. The paper provides a detailed description of climate characteristics (air temperature and precipitation) in the 30-year period of 1988-2017, i.e. after the commissioning of the Jeziorsko reservoir along with the ...