Przegląd Geograficzny (2025) vol. 97, iss. 1
River regulation as an impulse for the spatial development of the town of Czarny Dunajec
Przegląd Geograficzny (2025) vol. 97, iss. 1, pp. 69-85 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2025.1.4
Abstract
This article analyses the impact of river regulation on the spatial development of the town of Czarny Dunajec in southernmost Poland, close to the Slovakian border. It focuses on the transformation of the Czarny Dunajec River from a multi-thread, braided system in the 19th century through to being a regulated, single-thread watercourse in the 20th and 21st centuries. The study highlights how these changes facilitated urban expansion and reshaped the town’s spatial structure.
At the beginning of the study period, the river’s active channel covered 128.69 ha, and was characterised by a natural and dynamic morphology. Over time, extensive regulatory efforts, including straightening, narrowing, and the construction of sediment-control barriers, reduced the area of the active channel to 19.44 ha by 2019 – an 85% reduction. This transformation liberated considerable areas of land occupied previously by the river, making them available for development. The town’s built-up area expanded from 46.38 ha in 1863 to 185.72 ha in 2019, with much of this growth occurring within the former riverbed. Regulatory interventions effectively eliminated the risk of flooding in adjacent areas, encouraging urbanisation and the construction of infrastructure. Historical data reveal that the most major changes occurred in the mid-20th century, when the stabilization of the river channel allowed for intensified land use in riparian zones.
However, the environmental costs of these changes were substantial. The transfor mation of the river into an artificial, narrowed channel disrupted natural habitats, reduced ecological connectivity, and had an adverse effect on biodiversity. Additionally, the decreased capacity for natural water retention increased the region’s vulnerability to drought. Urban encroachment into riparian zones further limited opportunities for ecological restoration, compounding these challenges.
The study emphasises the dual role of river regulation as both a driver of urban growth and a source of environmental degradation. While the regulation of the Czarny Dunajec River facilitated spatial development, it also had far-reaching ecological consequences. Future efforts should focus on balancing development needs with environmental protection. Renaturalisation or rewilding projects, and the establishment of buffer zones, could mitigate the negative impacts of urbanisation, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen the region’s resilience to climate-related risks.
This research contributes to the broader understanding of how river regulation influences spatial planning and environmental sustainability, offering valuable insights for those managing similar challenges in other regions.
Keywords: river regulation, braided river, floodplain, spatial development, water management, Czarny Dunajec, Poland
[d751388@doktorant.uken.krakow.pl], Szkoła Doktorska Uniwersytetu Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Citation
APA: Błaszczyk, S. (2025). Regulacja rzeki jako impuls rozwoju przestrzennego miasta Czarny Dunajec. Przegląd Geograficzny, 97(1), 69-85. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2025.1.4
MLA: Błaszczyk, Szymon. "Regulacja rzeki jako impuls rozwoju przestrzennego miasta Czarny Dunajec". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 97, no. 1, 2025, pp. 69-85. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2025.1.4
Chicago: Błaszczyk, Szymon. "Regulacja rzeki jako impuls rozwoju przestrzennego miasta Czarny Dunajec". Przegląd Geograficzny 97, no. 1 (2025): 69-85. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2025.1.4
Harvard: Błaszczyk, S. 2025. "Regulacja rzeki jako impuls rozwoju przestrzennego miasta Czarny Dunajec". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 97, no. 1, pp. 69-85. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2025.1.4