The water basin bottom relief during its lifetime is shaped by the acumulation of the sediments, cleaning processes or the abrasive effects of the water flow. These modifications of the relief leads to the changes of the water basin acumulation capacity. The usage of the GIS for this task means the usage of digital terrain model (DTM), which represents the bottom of surveyed basin. The proposed method for the assessment of the basin capacity uses the poin-type objects. For the collecting of the point coordinates (x, y, z), we used the arrangement of the measuring equippment consisting of the GPS receiver and sonar, which was mounted to the raft boat. The data collection was done during the sailing on the water basin Golianovo. Final DTM was used for the calculation of the water basin capacity with the usage of zonal statistics in ArcGIS 10.

Water erosion is considered as one of the major factors causing physical soil degradation in Slovakia. The moderate up to the extreme potential erosion risk was assessed about 65% of Slovak agricultural soil fund. Most studies concentrated on the application of empirical formulae, such as the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), which is not always the appropriate tool for erosion studies. It was designed as a method to predict average annual soil loss caused by sheet and rill erosion, the USLE is often criticized for its lack of applications. While it can estimate long-term annual soil loss, it can not be applied to a specific year or a specific storm. To incorporate the impact of flow convergence, the hill slope length factor was replaced by upslope contributing area [Moore and Burch 1986, Mitašová et al. 1995, 1996, Desmet and Govers 1996]. The modified equation for computation of the LS factor is finite difference form in a grid cell representing a hillslope segment was derived by Desmet and Govers [1996]. Geographic information system is modern tool that enable the various equation for water erosion calculation to have a spatial variability. The final model locates potential erosion areas which need control and preventive measures according degree of erosion focused on rill the hill erosion.

The aim of this paper is to compare different methods of rain factor calculation. In this research were used two methodologies i.e. Wischmeier–Smith [1978] methodology and Hudson’s [1971] methodology. The main difference between these two methodologies is in the data processing especially in the calculation and choosing of kinetic energy intervals. These factors influence the resultant values of rain factor. The data for this research were provided by Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute in Bratislava, concretely were prepared data from rain-guage station Sereď for period 1962–1966. Obtained and calculated values show that Hudson relations and consequence resultant values are lower than the values calculated with Wischmeier–Smith’s methodology. After these calculations were resultant values of rain factor compared with existing values of rain factor calculated in the past by Soil Science and Conservation research Institute in the map form. This comparison showed that values calculated with using Hudson’s methodology are closer to past values. This fact is significant because it will be useful to revaluate the used methodology also because that there are deficient data about rain and the Hudson’s methodology can be use also for deficient data.

Water management by artificial water level increasing in rivers, results in environment changes. As the decreasing of the barrages influence at environment, fishpasses, that make the fish migration possible, are designed. In this article factors that have an effect on fishpasses development are described with the STEEPVL method. Their influence and prediction are described. During investigations the SWOT method was used also. It was used to determine positive factors groups (strengths, opportunities) and negative factors groups (weaknesses, threats) that have an influence on fishpasses development. On the basis of keyfactors of the STEEPVL method four scenarios were elaborated that describe the future of he studied problem.

Water quality in streams primarily affects human. A recent assessment of the characteristics of environmental indicators in the three sub-catchments basins Drevenica, Čerešňový Creek and Žitava (District Zlaté Moravce), we showed this effect. The sixteen villages in the sub catchments do not expect an increase in demographic trends, even a decrease in population compared to year 2000 to 228 people. In terms of water consumption in the villages we have seen that the consumption is even smaller than the specified minimum hygiene. Four municipalities haven’t own public water, are connected to group water conduit Zlaté Moravce. Average water consumption in 2010 was 68.84 liters · s–1 · day–1. The removal and treatment of waste water situation is different in each sub catchments. In the sub catchments Drevenica one of four communities has built a wastewater treatment plant, the Čerešňový Creek from four municipalities, three with treatment plant. In Žitava basins of the seven municipalities have three community wastewater treatment plants, one is under construction and one is connected to the existing sewerage treatment plant. Status of water quality in river basins also affects non-point sources of pollution. The largest percentage of acreage in the villages is currently agricultural land. In the Drevenica basin is agricultural land 51.12%, in the Čerešňový Creek basin 53.09% and 46.38% Žitava basins.

Due to extreme consequences of drought and flood in soil and landscape is necessary to know hydrological balance and soil water content. We used historical data about discharge, weather and crops from years 1974–1994, as well as measurements of soil moisture in the forest and arable soil, in grassland and Salix viminalis L. According to this information, the baseflow (by ABSCAN), surface runoff (SCS method), water retention and soil water content were calculated and evaluated.

The results of many years of the field investigations conducted in small lowland catchments for agriculture and forestry are presented in the paper. It was stated that rational exploitation of land reclamation devices positively effects on water retention resources of the adjacent areas, clearly increasing water available for plants in growing season. Subsurface irrigation stabilizes water resources of the valley and allows to keep, in growing season, by 0,5 m shallower groundwater tables in comparison to areas not covered by the irrigation.

In recent decades much attention has been devoted to topics dealing with temporal and spatial distribution of water capacity in the soil profile and evapotranspiration. The aim of this paper was to examine and describe the effect of soil surface modifications on evaporation intensity and then recommend options with the best ability to minimize evaporation for agricultural practice. During the year 2011 the effects of the soil surface modifications on the soil water storage, the amount of evaporated water and the evaporation intensity have been observed in the experimental area – Botanical Garden of Slovak Agricultural University. The experiment used different soil surface modifications – change the surface shape (convex and concave shape), change the hydrophysical properties (detergent application), agrotechnical controls (aerating, rolling, mulching). The soil moistures to a depth of 1 m soil profile were measured using the ADR method. Then the soil water storages to a depth of 0.6 m were determined with using planimeter. Using the simplified water balance equation the amounts of evaporated water and the evaporation intensity were calculated for each experimental variant. Based on the calculated amounts of evaporated water from individual variants can be noted that evaporation was minimized the most effective by applying detergent on the soil surface with convex shape. During the monitoring period this variant was showing the lowest evaporation intensity and the total amount of evaporated water from soil (664.7 mm), about 3.25 % lower value than variant – soil without modification. This result is considered by authors for the most valuable, because it „opens door“ to the new ways how to minimize evaporation using substances which lower the surface tension.

The research concerns the characteristics of intakes and underground water taken with their aid from the quaternary level for the city of Nowy Targ. Nowy Targ utilized surface waters in the past, but due to their insufficient quality, it has begun to exploit underground waters to cover the demand for drinking water for people. This study presents an evaluation of water quality prepared based on test results from 2007.

The paper contains results of hydrological researches conducted by Institute of Environmental Protection and Development Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Science in the Nowy Rów river catchment up to the Brodno cross section in period from May 1995 to October 2010. Nowy Rów is a river partly situated in the Odra valley; its catchment is characterized by small inclinations, agriculture use, large area of forest located mainly in the north and east part. Mean annual unit outflow in analyzed period was 2.73 dm3 · s–1 · km–2, and in winter half-year and summer half-year respectively 3.59 dm3 · s–1 · km–2 and 1.8 dm3 · s–1 · km–2. Mean annual index of outflow was 87 mm, in winter half-year 58 mm and in summer half-year 29 mm.

The paper describes the comparison water management in period from April to September 2011 in two medium alluvial soil profiles situated in the Odra valley down and up the damming structure in Brzeg Dolny. Analysis were done against the meteorological condtions, water levels in the Odra down and up the stage and ground water tables. The moisture field investigations and calculated water reserves shown that the volume of water reserves and changes of moisture in the area down the stage of fall depend mainly on precipitation. In soils of valley up the building in Brzeg Dolny besides of precipitation the wet soil from groundwater influenced on the soil water management.

The influence of fertilization with the compost prepared from treated sewage sludge with bark additive and mulching with the fresh forest ectohumus on the soil conditions, chosen parameters of one-year old littleleaf linden seedlings growth as well as the occurrence of soil mites (Acari) was investigated in the paper. The experiments were carried out in 2008 at forest nursery Białe Błota (Forest District Bydgoszcz) on the rusty soil. The whole area of the experiment was irrigated with the use of stationary sprinkling machine. The soil was characterized by the alkaline reaction (pH in H₂O in the range 7,2– –7,4), the low content of available potassium and available phosphorus as well as the content of C org. from 35,7 to 38,4 g · kg–1. The C : N ratio ranged 14,3–14,9. Littleleaf linden seedlings on plots fertilized with the compost were characterized by the higher number of leaves and the higher leaf area as well as by the greater diameter of the stem and the higher fresh mass. But, the seedlings were lower than those grown on the plots fertilized with mineral fertilizer. Influence of mulching – conducted in September – was insignificant in case of all the studied parameters of one-year old littleleaf linden seedlings growth. The mulching significantly influenced on the occurrence of soil mites. The increase of the density and the species diversity of these arthropods were noted on mulched plots. Communities of these soil mites were characterized by the domination of oribatid mites (Oribatida).

The importance and the need for wetlands protection results from their multifunctionality and values, which are related with hydrology water quality, food web and plants and wild animals’ biotope function. Conservation and rational utilization of wetlands and their sustainable development profit securing, which they provide within water, carbon holding, food, energy, biology diversity is the most heavy commitment of Ramsar Convention. The paper shows the importance, tasks and aims within the fulfilment of this commitment in Slovak Republic.

The authors present the method for determining the coefficient of roughness using the modified Manning’s and Erung’s equation in the article. The density of plants in the area is one of the parameters influencing the roughness coefficient and the water table decline as well. It’s necessary to use the roughness factor taken from the Ven Te Chow’s tables in the hydraulic calculations the effect of plant communities on the flow. The selection of the above coefficient could be ambiguous. This may be the cause of overestimation or underestimation of the flow through the analyzed area. Presented mathematical equations describe the geometric structure of plants community in a flood area and could be an alternative to the classical methods for roughness coefficient estimation.

Reservoirs are used for the storage water, for the purpose of conservation for later use. The loss of storage is only one deleterious effect of sedimentation in reservoirs. Others are increased flood levels upstream of the reservoir, retrogression of the river bed and water levels downstream of the dam, the effect of sedimentation on the reservoir water quality, etc. Phenomena associated with it – the accumulation and erosion – limits the useful life of a reservoir and safe operation of the dam. So far used to solutions is focused primarily on a separate counter the effect of the erosion below the dam or removal of sediment from the reservoir. The article focuses on methods to protect and maintain the capacity storage of the reservoir, to ensure a steady flow of all or part of the material transported by the river.