The assessment of the Hukiv basin rivers’ (Ukraine) stability level and ecological stress

Abstract

Our study, based on our own observations and measurements in the period of 2005–2021, reveals low environmental tension in the upper river catchment, associated primarily with minor anthropogenic modifications of riverbeds. In the middle and lower parts, high level of environmental tension is detected due to the irrational use of the river floodplain (plowing, illegal construction). High environmental tension is characteristic of the pond locations which significantly increases siltation and leads to the degradation processes in the Hukiv river and its tributaries.

The riverbed stability is found to serve the indicator of interaction in the system flow – riverbed between active and passive factors including economic activity. Erosion in the catchment is a significant regulator while the erosion growth or attenuation changes the stability of riverbeds.