Erozja wąwozowa w zachodniej części Płaskowyżu Nałęczowskiego (Wyżyna Lubelska)

Abstract

Gully erosion in the western part of the Nałęczów Plateau (Lublin Upland).S u m m a r y. The areaswith thick loess covers face the risk of intense soil erosion processes as well as gully erosion. The western part of the Nałęczów Plateau is especially prone to particularly high degree of intensive erosion among the region (denudation hazard. The density of the gully network reaches here up to 10 km/km2. The administrative area of Kazimierz Dolny is under extreme threat of severe consequences of erosion processes which appeared with high frequency and caused significant devastation of infrastructure not only on a national but maybe on a European scale as well. Geological conditions together with surface features favour intensive, secondary and anthropogenically conditioned erosion processes. Already in the historical sources there are mentions about the disastrous consequences of torrential rainfalls in the Kazimierz Dolny region. In such conditions the torrential rainfall waters flow quickly down the gully bottoms of considerable inclinations, concentrating on the bottom of Grodarz river valley. As a result it may lead to flooding or silting of crops, the roads may be destroyed or silted and the properties completely flooded. Taking into account the natural and cultural values of Kazimierz Dolny and its surroundings, as well as the presence of the Kazimierz Landscape Park it is necessary to take urgent steps in order to limit the threats considerably.