The paper deals with the issue of validity of data in a land and property register, a state tier register kept by starostes (government representatives in second tier administrative units). Land and property register documentation may be updated on a regular basis or comprehensively. The Michałowice commune (gmina, third tier administrative unit), near Kraków chose to implement the second mode. In 2012, it undertook this venture on its own initiative and at its cost even though it is a responsibility of starostes.The purpose of this paper was to assess the comprehensive update of the land and property register documentation for the whole cadastral unit of Michałowice and demonstrate its results. Therefore, causes of the decision of the local authorities, society response, and positive and negative aspects of the modernization for both the residents and the local government were discussed.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of nonwoven filters with a constant wastewater table as part of individual wastewater treatment plant in the context of achieving effluent concentrations of pollutants permissible by the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 18 November 2014. During the study two eightlayer filters (7.2 mm thickness) and one four-layer filter (3.6 mm thickness) were used. In the inflowing and outflowing wastewater COD, BOD5, total suspended solids and total phosphorus were determined. Average concentrations of pollution indicators in wastewater inflowing to the filters were: COD – 377.1 mg O2 · dm^–3, BZT5 – 149.4 mg O2 · dm^–3, total suspended solids – 166.8 mg · dm^–3. The highest treatment efficiency for most of the pollution indicators were obtained for the filters having the maximum thickness and the observed differences in average removal effectiveness between the various thicknesses of the filter layer were confirmed statistically. In author’s opinion the filters in the technical conditions should comply with the Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 18 November 2014. The studies have shown that the nonwoven filter with in conditions of stable wastewater table can be a useful technology as the second stage of the individual (on-site) wastewater treatment plant (for sludge fouling), especially in the conditions of discharge of treated wastewater into surface waters.

Forestry is often associated with an increase rates of soil erosion and sediment transport, and forest roads facilitate the flow of sediment particles to streams. The aim of the study was ecological status assessment of the stream exposed to silting, based on benthic invertebrates responses. The research was carried out in the Tym Stream, which is a mountainous stream with a rather large slope and pebble gravel bottom. Changes in channel of the stream were associated with the accumulation of fine sediments. Sources of sediments in the stream were mainly forest roads and trails. There were 4 sampling sites: two in the zone of sediments accumulation and two in the sections of the stream that were not silted. Morphological and physico-chemical parameters were measured. The main object of the study was macrozoobenthos. The accumulation of fine sediments worsen the living conditions of natural communities of invertebrate fauna, especially invertebrates associated with stony bottom and quickly flowing water like stoneflies, mayflies and caddisflies. Siltation of the substrate decreased the variety of the habitats. In the community of benthos in silted sites chironomid larvaes and oligochaetes dominated.

The paper presents an analysis of short-term changes of air temperature, both interdiurnal changes (T2–T1) and those occurring within the next three and four days (T3–T1 and T4–T1). It was calculated as the differences of the daily maximum air temperature in a cold season (X–III) from 5 Polish stations (Łeba, Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Włodawa) in the multi-year period (1961–2010). Average long-term differences in short-term changes of the maximum temperature in the cold season varied between 1,7–2,4°C at different stations. However it was found that in extreme cases, day-today changes (mostly decreases) achieved 20,3°C, and even 24,0–25,6°C over the next 3 or 4 days. Stations located in Central Poland were characterized by similar trends of changes in temperature values, while the biggest differences was observed in Leba and Krakow. In this work, special attention was paid to the number of days with the rapid change in temperature, understood as the differences greater than or equal 10,0°C in three followings intervals: (T2–T1), (T3–T1) and (T4–T1). The frequency of these days was 9% in multi-year period, with a slight advantage of temperature decreases over its increases. A few percentage dominance of the number of days (Tmax ≥ 10,0°C) in the first 25 years of the review period (1961–1985), than in the second (1986–2010) was observed in the long-term course of rapid change.

The palace and park in Orłów Murowany was founded in the nineteenth century. The landscape park with the palace, outbuildings and a grange covers an area of 6.4 ha. To the palace leads concourse length of 455 m. Between 2012–2014 drawn up a detailed inventory of dendrological park covering 1265 trees and shrubs, of which 85 specimens has monumental dimensions. The largest share in the stand have Carpinus betulus L., Tilia cordata Mill. , Populus alba L., Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Larix decidua L. As a result of years of neglect historic mansion is decaying and the lack of care and the progressive succession cause a gradual change in nineteenth-century park gardens in the forest complex.

The method of potential ecological effects assessment understood as decreasing of atmospheric air pollution that results from usage of straw biomass as the alternative fuel to coal was presented in the paper. Ecological effects expressed by the amount of carbon dioxide not emitted into the air and also the level (quantity) of decrease in nitric oxide and sulphur dioxide emission were calculated. The research had spatial character and covered Poland’s area in terms of provinces. Central Statistical Office of Poland (in Polish: GUS) source materials accounted for research base and the surveys presented in the paper were of methodical character. The authors presented their own scheme (algorithm) illustrating particular stages of the proposed method. In the application part, their results were validated. Presented in the paper assessment of ecological effects of gaining straw biomass energy revealed that potential significant decrease of sulphur oxides and sulphur dioxide emission into the air will take place in Poland. Moreover, carbon dioxide will not be emitted. The suggested method constitutes the first stage of surveys performed in that research range. Evaluation of potential demand for appliances to burn straw biomass as well as presentation of economical effects of replacing coal with this medium of energy will be the next stage of work.

This paper presents the results of the size of settlement in two stratigraphic sections and changes in morphology in four soil profiles between 1974 and 2012 in Polesie Lubelskie. The bed of peatlands classified as a low type, built reed peat with an mean depth of 3 m Sosnowica and 0.64 m Uhnin. The size of organic soil settlement measured surveying, is in the range of 9 cm to 33 cm, while mineral soils from 0 to 4 cm. The average size of settlement bog in Sosnowica was 24 cm in a period of 38 years, giving a reduction of 0.6 cm · year^–1, or peat weight loss of 11.5% of total resources. The situation is even worse in the case of peatland in Uhnin, where mineralization and fire peat bog area resulted in a decrease of 36%. Peat mass loss, due to fire, there was 53% of total resources, which corresponds to the reduction of 0.35 cm · year^–1. In period 50 years after dehydration is dominated by peat-muck soil a complex medium dry. The values of the correlation coefficient and the error rate indicates the inapplicability of empirical formulas for determining the size of the settlement.

Ash and slag from CEZ Skawina Power Plant were deposited for many years onto wet landfill in Kopanka village near Skawina town, south of Poland. All of it resulted in a change of hydrological relations, increasing rewetting neighbouring arable land and meadows. In the process succession plant communities formed, which became the contents of this document. The aim was to monitor plant associations changes due to rewetting soils of described areas. Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method was used. The evaluation of vegetation found a parallel to landfill edge strips of plants associations, which decreased amount of hygrophilous plants with increasing distance from the landfill.

The paper presents sunshine duration and solar radiation intensity in Krakow regarding their potential for helioenergetics. The data used come from the research station of the Department of Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow. Due to astronomic and climatic conditions, Krakow is characterised by the daily and annual variability of solar radiation intensity and large share of the diffuse radiation. The solar conditions in Krakow allow the use of solar energy by using solar collectors absorbing the direct and diffuse radiation. Further research along with the introduction of the government program to encourage the use of solar energy is needed.

In the paper, results of geodesic and hydrometric measurements were presented, also calculations for need of preparation of rating curve in cross-section of Dłubnia river, located in 10+247 kilometer were made. Geodesic measurements of cross-section and longitudinal water level slope were made with use Topcon AT-G6 leveler, and eight hydrometric measurements were made with use Nautilus C2000 OTT Hydrometrie current meter. Discharge was calculated with use Harlacher method based on hydrometric data and with use Chézy equation. It was ascertained, that low and average flows are medium five times higher to those calculated with use Harlacher method. The cause of such a significant differences in flow calculations for given damming up is a composition of the bottom of the river. It was ascertained, that essential influence on condition of water flows in case of low and average flows has an upgrade of the bottom in clear span, which is 203 m below of gauging section. It was also ascertained, that on shape of rating curve, in this cross section, also a damming up in Zesławice reservoirs has an influence.

Since the earliest times a man has been seeking help for health problems in holy groves or at healing rivers and springs. At that time, any illness was believed to result from a disapproval of spirits and gods, and magicians or wizards were the intermediaries between them and people. Herbal medicine was widely used. In Greece, the medics concentrated around the temples of Asclepius, the God of medicine. Temples, sanctuaries with springs, wells and altars had a cult-medicinal function. The medieval cloister gardens might be considered as the earliest therapeutic gardens. The monasteries established asylums, hospitals and hospices where those in need could get help, both physical and spiritual. In the 18th century in the West Europe the first city hospitals with accompanying gardens were established, for example in Paris, Marseilles, Florence, Pisa or Vienna. The development of medicine, hygiene and a role of a patient contact with nature in the process of healing as well as the ideas of Romanticism contributed to establishment of health resorts. In a Polish countryside, manor houses had a big importance in shaping the medical awareness. Possessing own stock of medicines and herbs (lime flos, chamomile, mint, dried fruits, jams, honey) resulted naturally from former needs and a lack of wider access to doctors and pharmacies. The development of gardens intended for active therapy in the USA is dated to the 18th and 19th century, when the contact with nature and working on a farm or in a garden was an important element of a treatment. In the 30s of the 20th century, in England, gardening became officially recognized as a method of therapy for physically or mentally ill. Fifty years later, a concept of a sensory garden appeared as a response to the needs of partially sighted. An article by Roger Ulrich, a German behaviorist and landscape architect, concerning a positive influence of nature on the ill and convalescents. At present, the importance of a therapeutic garden increases. It is not only a place for cultivation of plants, such as trees, shrubs and ornamentals, composed according to a specific design, but it is also a didactic garden presenting medical properties of plants as well as a place teaching compassion and understanding for sickness and old age.

The main aim of the paper was estimation of shear strength parameters of soil from one landslide located in Szymbark near Gorlice using back-analysis method. Shallow landslide located on Wiatrówki slope (Beskid Niski Mts.) was the object of analysis. The landslide was located on the border of agricultural terrace and it was induced by very intense rainfall. Causes of location of analyzed landslide in specific part of terrace were also considered in the paper. Slope stability calculations were made using Spencer’s method. The methodology of back-analysis was done according to recommendations of Duncan and Wright [2005] which allow to obtain one pair of values of internal friction angle and cohesion. Then, calculation of infiltration to estimate pore water pressure regime in the moment of failure were done. Permeability tests revealed that the coefficient of permeability in the location of the landslide was lower than in other part of analyzed terrace. furthermore infiltration results revealed that the analyzed rainfall was intense enough to saturate the soil profile in area of the landslide. Back-analysis showed that the soil from landslide’s area is characterized by relatively low value of effective cohesion (0,6 kPa) and high value of effective angle of internal friction (40,1º).

The results of shear strength parameters of soils from Bielanka and Bystra near Gorlice are presented in the paper. Determination of the influence of moisture content and shearing velocity on values of shear strength of tested soils was the subject of research. Test results revealed that soils have various shear strength and shear strength parameters, which significantly depends on grain distribution of soil, their moisture content and shearing velocity. It was showed that the increase of moisture content causes decline in shear strength of soils, which significantly depends on changes of cohesion. The influence of shearing rate was significant at higher values of moisture content, higher values of angle of interenal friction and lower values of cohesion were obtained in tests where lower value of shearing rate was used. It was also stated, that obtained shear strength values can be theoretically described using empirical Matsushi-Matsukuura model as values dependent on apparent cohesion, related to the matrix suction of soil.

The results of shear strength tests of cohesive soils from neighborhood of Stary Sącz (Kotlina Sądecka), similar in terms of grain-size distribution , are presented in the paper. Determination of the influence of moisture content and shearing rate on values of shear strength of tested soils were the main subjects of the test. The aim of paper was also comparison of obtained results of shear strength and results of theoretical calculation of shear strength using simplifying method for evaluation of shear strength of unsaturated soils proposed by Vanapalli et all. [1996]. Results of tests revealed that the increase of moisture content of tested soils causes significant decrease in their shear strength, which has significant influence on cohesion values. Calculations of shear strength revealed that values of soil shear strength determined using simplifying model gave good agreement with results of shear tests, confirming that important role of matric suction on shear strength of unsaturated soils. It was also shown that better shear strength parameters were obtained for soil having lower organic content.