Water levels decline in Polish lakes and parks due to mining and climate change

Water levels are significantly declining in several Polish regions, driven by the cumulative effects of lignite mining, climate change, and increased groundwater extraction for agriculture and residential use.

In the Powidz Landscape Park, water levels in certain lakes have dropped by 1.5 to 7 meters, causing shorelines to recede by hundreds of meters and leaving piers stranded in sand or grass. Jakub Gwit, the mayor of Powidz and president of the Powid Landscape Park Association, noted that while the lakes remain among the cleanest in Poland, the downward trend is concerning. A proposed solution involves a 9.5-kilometer pipeline to transport water from the Warta River to flooded mining pits to help stabilize the water balance.

Similarly, in Gródek Park, recent observations indicate that the water levels have fluctuated significantly. A previously submerged walkway has recently resurfaced, and the presence of land-based plant species in areas that were previously underwater suggests that the area was dry for several months. The local hydrogeological situation is influenced by the depression cone created by coal mining in the Jaworzno area.