The groundwater level changes caused by modernization of water devices in the Pomorze Forest District

Because of more and more frequent droughts and observed climate changes, infrastructural investments in forest are at present targeted at increasing water resources, which is realized under the so-called small scale water retention. Forest reservoirs located in Pomorze Forest District in the north-eastern Poland, which was selected for research, fits this trend. The constructed facilities were to reduce the indications of habitat dryness and to improve fire prevention. The investment consisting in building 14 objects of water melioration has changed water conditions in the research area. 12 oak dams, stone weir and an earth pond for amphibians have been built. As a result of the realized investment, the level of water has increased and problems with periodical flooding of forest habitats have occurred. At the beginning of 2012, observational and measuring wells were created to monitor all occurring changes of the soil water table. The received data can be useful in clarifying the causes for flooding and in possible suggestions to improve the existing water conditions. This paper presents the analysis of the influence of realized investments on the changes in the level of groundwater between 2012 and 2014.