Anthropogenic aspect of channel deformation and its industrial and economic impact (with the example of the Belaya river basin at the borders of the Republic of Bashkortosan)

Abstract

In view of the analysis of numerous publications presenting relationships between fluvial processes, one may notice that morphometric characteristics of river channels are directly proportional to the volume of flow. The maximum water flows which tend to adversely affect natural complexes, such as soils and sediments, are commonly referred to as threshold-forming. The data obtained from experiments and expeditions served to determine the values of revised factors, which clearly indicate their relationship with the maximum water flows, as well as the anthropogenic impact scale. All the factors were then assigned to proper orders of small and medium river tributaries in the Cisural region of Bashkortostan (order from 1 to n). The following elements were taken into consideration: slope, development of erosion processes, ecological catastrophes and hydrotechnical infrastructure. It was concluded that the highest number of cases where nature was damaged occurred in the areas where the network of gullies and ravines tend to be most dense. The paper aims to define the influence of changes in the course and shape of a channel on the utility features located nearby, demonstrating more applicable aspect of research on fluvial processes.