Maksym Łaszewski
ABSTRACT. The aim of the article is to present the possibility of reconstructing former river channels using historical topographic maps. The analysis was conducted on a sample of four sections of lowland Mazovian rivers that were regulated in the first half of the twentieth century. Maps were used to calculate changes in section length, mean channel slope, and sinuosity. It was found that the length of the studied river sections decreased from 18.2 to 38.1%, mean channel slope increased from 22 to 61%, and the sinusoity index decreased from 18 to 38%. Determining the historical parameters of river sections might contribute to a more complete explanation of the changes in lotic environments and provide a helpful tool for planning stream restoration.
Key words: lowland rivers, historical maps, stream restoration
Przyjęto po recenzji 30.05.2017 r.