Polish lakes face critical risks from drought and siltation

Major lakes in Poland are facing critical environmental challenges due to hydrological drought and extreme siltation. In Czchów, local authorities report that the lake is 70-80 percent silted. This massive accumulation of sediment has drastically reduced the reservoir's capacity, creating a significant flood risk. If water is released from the larger Rożnowo Lake, the Czchów reservoir may be unable to absorb it, potentially increasing danger downstream of the dam.

Simultaneously, Żywiec Lake is experiencing dangerously low water levels. Satellite imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has revealed large areas of the sandy and muddy lakebed that were previously submerged. The drought has also exposed historical terrain, including old routes that have been underwater since the 1960s.

The hydrological drought affecting the Żywiec region is part of a broader trend, with the Polish Geological Institute issuing warnings for 15 out of 16 Polish voivodeships.