Changes of soil water regime types in the area adjacent to the Tomisławice open-cast lignite mine (central Poland)

This work presents the results of a four-year study on the determination of the range of soil groundwater drainage caused by the operation of the Tomisławice lignite open-cast mine. The performed analyses covered the area of 9600 ha which included 24 villages. It was found that operation of Tomisławice open-cast mine caused noticeable changes of soil groundwater level in the areas adjacent to the excavation. It consequently resulted in considerable changes in soil water regimes types on grassland areas but it did not always lead to soil degradation processes. However, the deterioration of soils hydrological conditions may cause disappearance of certain hydrophilous grass species.