Causes and mechanisms of the disappearance of braided channel patterns (the example of the Białka River, Western Carpathians) .

The channels of multi-threaded (braided) rivers occur commonly in areas that fulfill certain conditions such as substantial influx bed material and gradients large enough to create significant energy flowing water. Natural favoring the formation multithreaded are present Carpathians Poland Podhale – a basin located piedmont area high-mountain Tatra massif. had experienced glaciation Pleistocene. Yet 20th century especially its second half was period rapid irreversible elimination braided across region. Białka is considered be last river Poland. Many parameters like: structure (morphologic reach sequence), degree braiding (BI index, W/D) also number hydrodynamic ones (unit stream power, critical stress, shear others) were investigated order assess current stage development channel. channel appears complex system with differentiated structure. Its mosaic different types described by following sequence: straight-sinuous-braided. It represents an intermediate type somewhere between single- Future evolution include further degradation transformation into poorer ecosystem.