Water retention in ditches – can it really counteract drought?

Why is it worth retaining water in ditches?

It is estimated that in Poland we have about 250,000 km of ditches. For comparison, the length of all streams that cover the surface of our country is about 150,000 km and the land border of our country is only 3,071 km. We could only surround Poland 80 times with a system of ditches. That is not much. Rising temperatures, longer periods without precipitation, and changing climate conditions significantly reduce the availability of water, which results in increasingly frequent and more severe droughts. By slowing down the surface runoff of water, we increase soil moisture and enable more effective supply of aquifers.

What are the benefits of water retention for agriculture?

Farmers feel the effects of drought the most, especially during the growing season. Proper water management in ditches allows its resources to be maintained for longer, which translates into better field irrigation and reduced crop losses. The soil stores moisture, thanks to which plants can survive periods without rain. This solution requires little financial outlay but can significantly affect the stability of agricultural production.

Water devices help to retain water for longer.

The use of gates, thresholds or partitions allows to control the storage of water in ditches. These small structures cause the water not to flow rapidly, but to remain in place, gradually soaking into the soil and improving its moisture.

• Gates – these are structures equipped with movable elements that allow us to control the water level in the ditch. They can be made of wood, concrete, or metal. They allow us to periodically dam up water and adjust the retention level to current needs.
• Dams – small obstacles in ditches that slow down the flow and stop water in specific places. The functionality of the dams is to introduce appropriate resistance to the flow of water, which is intended to both stop it and balance the flow. They are often made of stones, wood, or prefabricated concrete elements.
• Culverts with drainage regulation – special structures placed in drainage ditches that let us to control, the amount of water that drains, which allows it to be stored and gradually released during periods of drought.

Such local solutions are of great importance. They allow for more effective management of water resources without the need to build large and expensive hydrotechnical structures.

How does increased retention affect water resources?

In Poland, there are places where the hydrogeological situation is so unfavorable that raising the groundwater level becomes crucial for proper irrigation of crops or improvement of the surrounding ecosystem. Retaining water in a ditch alone will not immediately result in the creation of wet meadows or marshy areas in depressions, but it can contribute to this in the long term. The mechanism works as follows:

1. Raising the water table – water retained in the ditch gradually seeps into the soil, raising the water table in the immediate vicinity. If this process continues for a longer period of time, the adjacent areas may become wetter, which promotes the formation of wetland habitats.
2. Changing habitat conditions – with a higher water table, the vegetation changes to one that tolerates moisture better, such as sedges, reeds, or bulrushes. This in turn attracts other organisms, such as amphibians and water birds.
3. Reducing surface runoff – slowing down the runoff means that water stays in the landscape longer.
4. Local depressions – if there are natural depressions near the ditch, the retained water can fill them, creating small pools that provide a great environment for various species.

Retaining water in ditches brings benefits not only to agriculture, but also to ecosystems. It causes long-term maintenance of the correct level of soil moisture, which is necessary for plant growth. Wet meadows and wetlands become habitats for many species of plants and animals, especially birds, amphibians, and pollinating insects.

Can local solutions reduce the effects of drought?

Yes! Implementing simple retention methods at the local level can significantly improve water availability, especially during periods of low rainfall. By slowing down the runoff, the soil stores moisture better, which allows for more stable and predictable crops. This is one of the simpler and more economical tools in the fight against drought, which can bring benefits to both nature and agriculture. 

New regulations facilitating water damming in ditches

In recent years, changes have been introduced to the Water Law, which make it easier for farmers and landowners to retain water on their land. Currently, it is no longer necessary to obtain a water permit to retain water in drainage ditches, provided that this does not change the water conditions on neighboring plots.

According to Article 395 of the Water Law,  a water permit or water notification is not required for:

• retaining water in ditches, if the range of impact does not exceed the boundaries of the area owned by the company or the area within the range of impact, when the company has the prior written consent of the owners of the land affected by the impact to retain water in ditches
• inhibiting the outflow of water from drainage facilities, if the range of impact does not exceed the boundaries of the area owned by the company or the area within the range of impact, when the company has the prior written consent of the owners of the land affected by the impact to inhibit the outflow of water from drainage facilities
• reconstruction of ditches to retain water, if the range of impact does not exceed the boundaries of the area owned by the company or the area within the range of impact, when the company has the prior written consent of the owners of the land affected by the impact to modify ditches to retain water
• reconstruction of drainage facilities to inhibit the outflow of water, if the range of impact does not exceed the boundaries of the area owned by the company or the area within the range of impact, when the company has the prior written consent of the owners of the land affected by the impact to modify drainage facilities to inhibit water drainage

What does this mean in practice?

If someone wants to slow down the outflow of water on their land, they can do so without complicated formalities. All they have to do is not flood or dry out land belonging to other owners. This simplification of regulations allows for easier and faster implementation of retention solutions that help fight drought. 

Thanks to these changes, more and more people can take action on their own to improve the water balance in their surroundings. This is a simple way to retain valuable water in the landscape, instead of letting it flow away forever.