Riverbed under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors is constantly being transformed. The changes of the channel parameters related to natural phenomena are rarely dynamic. Contrarily it is ... więcej

Riverbed under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors is constantly being transformed. The changes of the channel parameters related to natural phenomena are rarely dynamic. Contrarily it is in the case of human activity. The introduction of river engineering structures to the riverbed aims to quickly adapt the river to the requirements. If construction of such forms is designed taking account of natural conditions prevailing in the riverbed, then negative effects cannot be observed. The situation is different when the river's characteristics were not considered in the design process. The article discusses the changes that the riverbed has undergone due to its intensive contraction at the ferry crossing at km 488 of Vistula, in Gassy. Current and archival aerial photographs were analyzed in terms of the transformation of the riverbed width, as well as the size of the mid-channel islands. The focus was concentrated on a section of the river 2 km above and 4 km below the ferry crossing. In particular, the parameters of the channel bar located directly below the narrowing and their change over the last decades were analyzed. Conclusions were drawn regarding the case study and recommendations for designing analogous solutions ensuing from the analysis were formulated.