Pilot implementation of WFD and creation of a tool for catchment management using SWAT: River Zglowiaczka catchment, Poland

Abstract

Poland, like other EU countries, is obliged to implement the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/WE) by the end of 2015. The main objective of the Directive is to provide normative quality of all water resources (surface, underground and coastal sea waters). To reach this goal, reduction of water pollutant emission to the environment is needed. Our project focuses on pollution from agricultural sources which share in global pollution, which is high and growing. This is due to both intensification of agricultural activities and ignoring Agricultural Good Practice Code rules by farmers. In view of the above, this project is expected to provide analysis of selected catchments; especially those exposed to agricultural pollution risk, and propose adjustment strategies for new trends, still keeping in mind environment protection. Our project concerns the area further called "sensitive area" (according to the rules of Regional Water Management Board in Warsaw). A part of Zglowiaczka river catchments in central Poland was defined as sensitive area (125.3 km 2 ) where reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus run-off from agricultural land to water resources is especially needed. This is a typical agricultural district characterized by good soil quality (predominance of black swampy soil with deep and fertile humus layers). Due to this, it is the first and foremost high quality agricultural land, and almost forestless. The main topic of the research, with the use of the SWAT model, is to propose different means for reduction of migration of P and N to surface waters. Another problem is retention of water for actual and future irrigations. After model verification, calibration and validation, several climatic changes and reclamation strategies will be tested and simulated by the model to find the most effective and profitable solutions. The project focuses on supporting administration and selfgovernmental organization in the implementation of effective strategies of catchments management based on a modeling approach. This method enables analysis of trends and early warning system against excessive pollution load. Enhancement of the ecological education level and activation of local population for implementation of EU directives are also very important factors.

Geostatistical Resampling of LiDAR-Derived DEM in Wide Resolution Range for Modelling in SWAT: A Case Study of Zgłowiączka River (Poland)

“…The Zgłowi ączka River watershed has been previously modelled in order to support the implementation of the Framework Water Directive in Poland [34], the determination of the dislocation ways and the size of the nitrogen loads [35], and the influence of permanent grasslands on nitrogen loads [36]. The considerable anthropogenic transformation of the natural hydrological conditions of the Zgłowi ączka River watershed has caused many problems [35].…”

The Influence of Permanent Grasslands on Nitrate Nitrogen Loads in Modelling Approach

“…The average yearly sum of precipitation is 500 mm (with average 600 mm for Poland), of which 300 mm falls during the vegetation period. Potential evapotranspiration in Zgłowiączka River catchment is 650 mm per year and in the vegetation period between 450-500 mm [ZŁONKIEWICZ et al 2007 [ŚMIETANKA et al 2009]. SWAT is an abbreviation from Soil and Water Assesment Tool.…”