Evaluation of Pressure Types Impacted on Sediment Supply to Dam Reservoirs: Selected Examples of the Outer Western Carpathians Catchments Area

Abstract

The proper characteristics of the catchment area of dammed reservoirs is of great importance when managing their capacity in the context of enabling proper functioning, including retention of the planned amount of water and counteracting the effects of drought. Therefore, detailed analyses covered mountain reservoirs with varying degrees of capacity changes: Goczałkowice on the Vistula, Rożnów on the Dunajec and Tresna on the Soła, thanks to which reasons for the differences in these changes were determined. For this purpose, data on the volume of the suspended load was used. Diversity in its transport is mainly caused by the presence of damming structures. Correlation of morphological and hydraulic indicators was carried out, preceded by the identification and characteristics of all transverse and longitudinal structures located in catchments upstream of individual reservoirs. Analysis of the geological structure, as well as the structure of land use in the basins of the reservoirs, was also performed. The obtained results allowed for the preparation of recommendations for further work, allowing, among other things, an increase in water retention. The key factors for maintaining the capacity of retention reservoirs were defined, which may be useful in national plans or programs in the field of counteracting the effects of drought or flood protection.