We studied distributions and abundances of macroinvertebrates in relation to hyporheic water exchange (HWE) patterns of the upper Biebrza − a small, lowland, low dynamic European river located in Northeast Poland. On a 6-km stretch of the river; we determined the variability of water exchange in the hyporheic zone by using direct field measurements of the pressure gradient to determine groundwater–surface water interactions. We identified locations with upwelling and downwelling fluxes of HWE as well as ambiguous hydraulic contact between groundwater and surface water along the river. In these locations, we sampled bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrates. In total, 627 individuals of benthic macroinvertebrates of 34 taxa were identified. We revealed that bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate fauna is more abundant and diverse in river stretches where water from the river infiltrates the hyporheic zone. Results also show higher taxonomic richness and abundances of benthic macroinvertebrates in stretches with diagnosed infiltrating conditions (downwelling flux in a hyporheic zone) compared to in stretches where the river drained groundwater (upwelling flux in a hyporheic zone), but the recorded differences were not statistically significant.

Zapewnienie reżimu hydrologicznego odpowiadającego wymaganiom ekosystemów wodnych i od wody zależnych jest niezbędne dla utrzymania lub osiągnięcia dobrego stanu/potencjału wód i należy do priorytetów zrównoważonej gospodarki wodnej. Wymagania ekosystemów odwzorowywane są najczęściej w postaci przepływów nienaruszalnych lub środowiskowych, które stanowią ograniczenie w wykorzystaniu zasobów wodnych. Celem artykułu jest porównanie gospodarczych skutków zastosowania metody szacowania przepływów środowiskowych, obecnie obowiązującej metody RZGW w Szczecinie i najbardziej znanej w Polsce metody Kostrzewy (1977), a także ocena przydatności i możliwości zastosowania metody przepływów środowiskowych w analizach planistycznych. Analizy przeprowadzono na podstawie badań symulacyjnych. Wielkości obliczonych przepływów nienaruszalnych i środowiskowych przedstawiono w profilu podłużnym i w wybranych przekrojach Wieprzy. Skutki wdrożenia przepływów środowiskowych oceniono poprzez gwarancje czasowe ich utrzymania oraz zmiany wielkości gwarantowanych zasobów dyspozycyjnych wód powierzchniowych. Stwierdzono, że w większości przekrojów bilansowych w zlewni Wieprzy zastosowanie przepływów środowiskowych spowoduje zmniejszenie dostępności zasobów wodnych zarówno dla istniejących, jak i perspektywicznych użytkowników wód. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników przedyskutowano wybrane zagadnienia związane z metodyką określania przepływów środowiskowych, szczegółową uwagę zwrócono na nieścisłości i luki w proponowanej metodzie.

Transport areas in urban environments typically cover 10–20% of a city’s area. Due to their hierarchical structure and network layout, they present a unique opportunity to integrate Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) within cities strategically. In Poland, however, the current use of NbSs in streetscapes tends to be sporadic, localized, and often resulting from grassroots initiatives. This study aimed to assess how much the provision of ecosystem services (ESs) in cities depends on and can be enhanced by NbSs. To explore this, simulations were conducted using six NbSs scenarios, selected based on an analysis of solutions specifically designed for streets and their characteristics. This research focused on a densely built and populated district of Warsaw. The findings revealed that applying NbSs can significantly reduce stormwater runoff, increase carbon sequestration, and improve air quality. The level of ES provision depends on the solutions used, with the introduction of woody vegetation, particularly tall shrubs and trees, proving most effective. The results show that the scenario-based approach allows for flexible streetscape design, enabling the application of individually selected NbSs. Moreover, the approach helps to select optimal elements that enhance the provision of ES crucial to adapting cities to climate change.

The article presents the scientific-based strategic board game Neighbourhood with Climate, which aims to become an educational tool for adaptation on a local scale to climate change in temperate climates. The game used in climate education supports citizen engagement, empowering people with the knowledge of nature-based solutions (NbS), which could be applied to prepare and protect themselves and their community from extreme weather in temperate climates. As it combines social engagement and environmental and economic elements, it fulfils the criteria for Education for Sustainable Development. In this game, unlike many other computer or board games, neighbours play on real maps of their estate or neighbourhood and work outthe changes that can be implemented in the city. The paper can encourage scientists to create similar local educational tools for other climate zones and financial realities.

Allocating finite water resources between different water uses is always a challenging task. Searching for a solution which satisfies the water needs (requirements) of all water users without compromising the water requirements of river ecosystems calls for analyzing different water management options and their expected consequences. Water management balances are usually used for comparison of water resources with the needs of water users. When aquatic and water dependent ecosystems are considered in a similar manner as other users, searching for the optimum water resources allocation, without neglecting requirements of the natural environment, is possible. This paper describes basic modeling assumptions and methodological solutions, which allow for taking into account some tasks related to the protection of aquatic and water dependent ecosystems. The water balance model, developed for a catchment comprising the Warta Mouth National Park, was applied to find out whether supplying adequate amounts of water for conservation (or restoration) of wet meadows and wetland habitats in the area is possible, while still satisfying the demands of other water users.

In the integrated management of water resources, which includes protecting and restoring ecosystems that are directly and indirectly dependent on water, a crucial issue is assessing and identifying areas with the greatest need for improved water retention. This study presents an effective and easy-to-apply method based on the multicriteria decision-making approach, which analyses needs and feasibility. Until now, a point bonitation method has been used to evaluate the need to increase the retention capacity of specific areas. Modification of this method involved applying the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach to estimate the weights of the analysed criteria. The results obtained using the new method were compared with previous studies assessing retention needs in the Masovian Voivodeship (Poland), which relied on the point bonitation method. The final evaluation showed a 74% compliance rate while significantly reducing expert involvement, demonstrating the high applicability of the developed method. Moreover, the DEMATEL method enabled the development of a cause-and-effect model of the criteria and an analysis of their importance. The lowest level of importance (13.6%) was attributed to climatic conditions, while the significance of the remaining criteria (hydrological and hydrogeological conditions, economic use of the catchment area, and catchment area cover) varied within a narrow range, from 20% to 23.5%.