Acta Scientiarum Polonorum

Abstract: The work aimed at investigating the impact of water damming on changes of discharge regime, quality of water and river bed sediments, and plant associations within the river channel. The analysis was carried out on the Łasica and Świder rivers situated in protected areas. The research results point out that suitable location and construction of damming facilities as well as their suitable exploitation consisting in right regulation of water level can be favourable for environmental. This is especially important for legally protected areas where the increase of water retention is a precondition for conservation of valuable plant sites.