Factors influencing hydrology of a riparian woody pasture in western Hungary

Climate change induced droughts are a major threat to riparian ecosystems.  Water scarcity can degrade such types of ecosystems but with reasonable water supply these valuable wetland ecosystems can be preserved or those that have deteriorated can be restored.

In the frame of this research we evaluated the hydrological reconstruction works of the Doroszló meadows habitat. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed at 4 selected locations in the area. Water table values and surface soil moisture were monitored  in parallel. Hydrological parameters  were recorded manually on a weekly basis. Data for the period from April 2019 to October 2021 were processed using  statistical methods such as “treatment-control space-time deviations” and “double mass curve”. 

As a result we found that water supply interventions had a detectable effect on the groundwater level and soil mositure of the area, but some modifying factors had also influenced the hydrology of micro locations. Therefore taking into account local effects is very important in case of the evaluation of a water supply project.

Acknowledgement: Research was supported by TKP2021-NKTA-43 project. Project no. TKP2021-NKTA-43 has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the TKP2021-NKTA funding scheme.”