Polish Lakes Zdworskie and Zgorzała Dwindling Amid Management Gaps

Lake Zdworskie, the largest natural lake in Mazovia (about 353 ha), has been losing water for years. Recent attempts to cross the lake by boat had to stop mid‑way because the water level fell several metres, exposing a silted bottom. The lake’s decay has continued despite past scientific studies and remediation efforts; after water‑management responsibilities shifted to the state water company, many actions were halted.

In Warsaw’s Ursynów district, Lake Zgorzała has similarly vanished, leaving only small ponds and a cracked basin. The municipal authorities face legal obstacles because the surrounding parcels belong to private owners, preventing hydrotechnical work. Experts suggest that private wells and newly built ornamental ponds may be further lowering groundwater, accelerating the lake’s disappearance. Both cases highlight chronic hydrological problems and insufficient coordinated action to preserve urban and regional water bodies in Poland.