THE ECOLOGICAL STATE AND LAKESHORE ACCESSIBILITY IN AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL OF LAKES IN THE COMMUNES OF LINIEWO AND NOWA KARCZMA (ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT OF KOSCIERZYNA, THE PROVINCE OF POMORZE)

Andrzej Skrzypczak, Aleksandra Szypiłło, Błażej Zarębski, Andrzej Mamcarz
Department of Lake and River Fisheries, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research project was to analyse lake accessibility parameters in relation to the ecological state of lakeshores in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma, in the administrative district of Koscierzyna. Based on the results, the author tried to establish recreational potential of those water bodies in terms of their primary recreational functions. The study comprised 23 lakes of the total surface area of 616.5 ha. On the basis of on-site observations and measurements, an analysis of the shore zone ecological properties was done and shoreline accessibility indices were established. The range of water emergent vegetation growing in belts 1-5 m and > 5m in width was determined along with the share of wetlands in the lake shoreline zone. Lakeshore accessibility indices were highly varied. The percentage of shoreline sections overgrown with emergent plants was on average 39.9% for the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune and 75.9% in Liniewo commune. Wetlands within the lakeshore zones, which was a highly variable parameter, reached on average 17.3% for the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune and 38.0% in Liniewo commune. The linear correlation between water surface accessibility and shoreline ecological parameters was analysed. This parameter was most strongly negatively correlated (r=-0.782) with the presence of emergent vegetation belts >5 m in width in the lakeshore zone. While analysing the recreational potential of the lakes, sailing capacity was assessed for lakes >100 ha in surface area. Angling capacity was analysed according to the surface area of the lakes and the actual number of angling stands within the shoreline zone. At the varied water surface areas and lake accessibility indices, the total angling capacity of the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune was assessed at 403 persons·day^-1 and in Liniewo commune this figure reached 662 persons·day^-1. Graphic presentation of the lakeshore accessibility and belts of helophytes within the lakeshore zones was prepared.

Key words: lakes, water recreation, lakeshore accessibility, commune of Liniewo, commune of Nowa Karczma, angling, yachting.

INTRODUCTION

Natural assets are essential for a given area to be an attractive target for development of tourism industry. The natural environment, which is particularly important for holiday, cultural and heritage as well as specialist tourism, should be taken into consideration when assessing potential space for tourism industry in each local commune [10].

Lakes, as a destination where people come to regain psychophysical power, are thought to be one of the main determinants of nature’s attractiveness for man, especially in regions known as lake districts [5, 36, 39].

Numerous papers have been published which deal with lakes used for various types of recreational purposes, and which undertake an effort to evaluate lakes as places suitable for holiday and relaxation [5, 14, 26, 28, 36]. The importance of water reservoirs for recreational purposes can be considered in terms of their utility and autotelic value [18]. Typically, the autotelic value does not depend on lakeshore accessibility parameters, which determine the utility value of a lake, especially for such forms of relaxation as swimming, sunbathing, sailing and angling.

Zwoliński [37] claims that lakes which are particularly important for tourism are the ones that cover over 50 ha. Gołembski [9], in turn, says than those are the lakes over 25 ha in surface area. According to Zwoliński [36] lakes that are less than 20 ha in surface area cannot be used for holiday tourism. Over half of the lakes in Poland (51%) are between 1 and 5 ha in area [13]. They all make up a big, albeit unused, potential for recreational business. In many cases angling is the first and only form of recreation on small and hardly accessible lakes [27].

Other factors which can limit possible use of lakes for recreation are poor quality of their water and difficult access [6]. The purity of river and lake waters in a given area plays an important role in the development of holiday, active or qualified tourism (yachting, canoeing) [9]. Dedio [5] distinguished ten types of water recreational activities and pointed out that only two of these (ice yachting and motor boating) were not limited by poor quality of lake water. Lakes used for recreational purposes should belong to at least the second water purity class [4].

For recreational aims, the most important is the zone of contact between land and water, where most of recreational activities take place [5]. Zwoliński [36] suggested that none of the forms of tourism connected with lakes was unrelated to the character of the lake shoreline. The accessibility of a lake largely depends on emergent vegetation [6]. It is assumed that from the point of view of a tourist or holiday maker the most attractive are the lakes whose shores are least overgrown with plants [3]. Another obstacle that impedes access to a lake is its riparian shores [27]. A belt of wetlands around a lake which is 20-50 m wide or wider excludes it from recreational purposes and makes it unsuitable for holiday stays [36].

The objective of this research project was to analyse lake accessibility parameters in relation to the ecological state of lakeshores in the communes (gmina) of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma. Based on the results, the author tried to establish recreational potential of those water bodies in terms of their primary recreational functions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study covered a group of lakes lying in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma, in the administrative district (powiat) of Koscierzyna. The morphological properties of the lakes were established according to their surface area (ha), depth (m), average depth (a ratio of water volume in m³ to average water surface area in m²), elongation index (a ratio of maximal length in m to maximal width in meters) and shoreline length (m). The morphological parameters were found in relevant catalogues [2, 12]. Due to the lack of any information on elongation indices and shoreline lengths, the appropriate calculations were completed according to geodetic maps 1 : 10 000 in scale.

The analysis of ecological properties of the shores of the lakes was completed from January to May 2005. Direct measurements from land and water were taken using a scaled pole. Zones of emergent vegetation measuring either 1-5 m or >5 m in width were localized and drawn on maps. Similarly, the share of riparian areas (riparian forests and marshes) in the belt adjacent to the shoreline of each lake was determined. Points where each lake was accessible from land were found, and their total potential was expressed as a score of points, assigning one point for each accessible shoreline section from 1 to 10 m in length. The score of accessibility points per 100-meter-long shoreline section was taken as an accessibility index [27].

The sailing capacity of the lakes was determined according to the method proposed by Klimaszewski [15] using the lake water table capacity index 5 ha·sailing boat^-1 and a conversion factor of 3.2 person·sailing boat^-1 [15]. For calculations, a shoreline development index (a ratio of shoreline length in meters to the double value of a square root of the quotient of π value by lake area in hectares) was taken [33].

The total angling capacity of lakes was determined on the basis of a lake’s water table area and the real number of angling stands along the shoreline of each lake. The potential of the angling stands was determined on the assumption that the minimum distance between any two such sites should not be less than 10 meters. This assumption complies with §4 item 3a of the Regulation of the Polish Angling Association [23] and has been applied in other studies [27]. When determining the water table capacity for angling, a linear factor was assumed at 2 boats per 100 running meters of the long axis of a lake^-1. The source of reference is §5 item 3b of the Regulation of the Polish Angling Association [23], which sets up the distance between two boats at 50 meters when catching predatory fish with artificial bait. This capacity was expressed by a number of anglers, using the conversion factor of 1.5 person·boat^-1.

The mean values of the analysed parameters were given together with standard deviation (±SD). The variability of each of the analysed parameters was expressed by the value of a coefficient of variation, defined as the ratio of standard deviation (SD) to the mean [20].

The strength of the correlations between the ecological traits of the shoreline of a lake and the index establishing the shore accessibility was examined using a correlation matrix and Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient [29]. The regression equation for the linear function and the value of the coefficient of the determination R-squared, which yields the measure of trend line adjustment, were computed. The reliability of tests and analyses was assumed at the level of significance α=0.05 [31].

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA UNDER STUDY

The communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma lie in the Province of Pomorze, in the north-east part of administrative district (powiat) of Koœcierzyna (Fig. 1). The administrative borders of both communes are less than 70 km away from the cities of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. According to the physico-geographical division of Poland into regions, the lakes belong to the South Baltic Lake Districts, and lie in the central part of the mesoregion called Kaszuby Lake District [17].

Both communes, Liniewo and Nowa Karczma, are similar in area: 11 007 and 11 333 ha, respectively. Forests cover about 23.00% of the commune of Liniewo and 17.80% in the commune of Nowa Karczma [11, 21].

There are no sources of industrial emissions as both communes lack any industrial centres. The total area of land under some form of environmental protection in the commune of Liniewo is 3 494 ha (31.74% of the commune’s area). In the commune of Nowa Karczma, land under legal protection, including one landscape park and two areas of protected landscape, covers the total of 2 090 ha (18.40% of the commune’s area). In addition, there are 10 nature monuments in the latter commune [11].

The geographical character of the communes is that of a varied surface relief [1]. Most of the undulated landscape in both communes, and in the whole of Kaszuby Lake District, was formed during the last glacial period, known as the Baltic Glaciation. The predominant forms of land relief comprise hills and moraines, long chains of ribbon lakes and present river valleys [34].

The surface water reservoirs of high scenic and utility values are another important component of the landscape. They cover 4.0% of the area of Liniewo commune and 2.6% of Nowa Karczma commune. Both communes lie in the basin of the Wierzyca river (a right tributary of the Vistula), which flows across the commune of Nowa Karczma. The whole area under study is also drained by another river, the Wietcisa, a meandering tributary of the Wierzyca. Another important watercourse is the Kacianka river (Liniewo commune), a left tributary of the Wierzyca, sometimes called the Small Wierzyca. Apart from those rivers, there are numerous small stream, mainly periodical and episodic ones. Another hydrographic feature that plays an important role in the local water regime are numerous land depressions filled with water without runoff, which function as natural water retention reservoirs [7]. Such hollows gave rise to small thaw lakes, also known as ponds or kettle lakes, and their number can be as high as 30 kettle lakes per 1 km² [8]. This is the highest density of kettle lakes in Kaszuby Lake District [22].

There are 15 lakes of the total surface area of 380.7 ha lying in Liniewo commune, and 8 lakes of the total surface area of 235.8 ha in the commune of Nowa Karczma. The basic morphological parameters of those lakes are presented in Table 1. Of the total number of 23 lakes, only two cover more than 100 ha. Most of the lakes are small, with 16 less than 30 ha in surface area. In general, the lakes are shallow, as the maximal depth of 19 of those lakes is less than 10 meters. They are predominantly ribbon lakes, which stretch from the north-east to the south-west [22]. The elongation index for 13 of those lakes is over 3.0, reaching as much as 8.1 (Sobackie Lake). Much rarer are the ground moraine lakes, such as Garczyn, Gobrowo, Szklanka and Starowieckie Lakes (Liniewo commune) [7]. Their elongation index does not exceed 2.5.

According to the analysis of water quality, the Kacianka, Kamionka and the Wietcisa rivers were classified as class II of water purity, while the Wierzyca river belonged to class III [35]. Recently, purity of lake water has been analysed only in Grabowskie Lake (Nowa Karczma commune), and assessed as class II. In the 1980s the purity of water in Polaszkowskie and Sobšckie Lakes was also tested. It was then determined to belong to class II. The biggest threat to the quality of lake waters in both communes is created by uncontrolled development of summer houses in areas without sewage pipes. This accelerates water eutrophication and deteriorates water quality parameters. Summer cottages built within direct basins of lakes can now be found around such lakes as: Lonka, Polaszkowskie and Sobšckie (Liniewo commune) as well as Grabowskie and Lubańskie (Nowa Karczma commune).

Neither of the communes has guarded beaches or water equipment rentals. In the commune of Nowa Karczma there are several ‘wild’ grassy beaches, lying on privately-owned land. Single places for swimming and sunbathing can be found on lakes Grabowskie, Psinko, Lubańskie, Kamionki Duże and Barkocińskie. They are taken advantage of by local people exclusively and cannot serve as a basis for the development of tourism in either of the communes. In Liniewo commune there are two sandy beaches on Orle (Duże) lake, both partly fenced and equipped with piers. They attract most of the visitors looking for a place by water to spend a weekend with their families. Single and small places for sunbathing, typically grassy ones, lie Garczonki, Liniewskie, Lonka and Starowieckie Lakes. They are used by local inhabitants and do not help to enhance tourism in the communes. The largest lake in the commune of Liniewo (Polaszkowskie lake) is occasionally used for motor boating pursued by visitors who arrive there with their own water scooters. This form of water recreation finds suitable conditions on Polaszkowskie Lake, which is long (elongation index 4.8) and large.

The most popular form of recreational use of the lakes in both communes is angling. Whatever the limits, most of the lakes are used mainly for angling. The lakes’ owners or leaseholders, who are in majority private persons, set up conditions and terms of using the lakes by anglers.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The on-site analytical observations of the shoreline of the lakes suggests that they differ greatly in shore accessibility (Table 2). Emergent vegetation overgrows from 4.2 to 100.0% of the lake shorelines in Nowa Karczma commune (on average, 39.9% ±32.1) and from 39.0% to 98.0% of the lake shorelines Liniewo commune (on average 75.9% ±20.4). Over 50% share of rushes forming belts > 5 m in width was determined around nearly half the lakes (seven) in Liniewo commune and only around one lake in the commune of Nowa Karczma. The average percentage of wetlands around the lakes, at high variability of this parameter, was 17.3% (variation coefficient 1.4) in Nowa Karczma commune, and 38.0% (variation coefficient 0.6) in Liniewo commune. Against the background of the ecological characteristics of the shorelines described above, large differences were obtained in the average index of lakeshore accessibility. In Nowa Karczma commune this index reached 5.8 points · 100m^-1 (±2.8) and in Liniewo commune it equalled 2.5 points · 100m^-1 (±1.9).

Zwoliński [36] pointed to the relationship between the extent of vegetation growth on lakes and their depth. He claimed that shallower moraine lakes, which are characterised by mild slopes of the lake basin and small depths in the littoral zone, disappear more readily than ribbon lakes. This means that they are overgrown with water plants faster and in most of them 90% of the shores are covered with a belt of vegetation over 5 m in width [36]. This hypothesis, however, finds no confirmation in the present study on the lakes in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma, where the largest share of above-water vegetation forming a belt of >5m in width was determined for the ribbon lakes.

Deja [6] examined the extent of vegetation overgrowth on the lakes in Iława Lake District, but she did not distinguish between belts of different widths. With the use of linear indices, she assumed that overgrowth with helophytes was small when 10% of a lake’s shore was covered with water plants, medium when the percentage of the shore length covered with plants was between 10 and 50%, and large when plants covered over 50% of a lake’s shore. Applying Deja’s categories [6] to the lakes in Liniewo and Nowa Karczma communes leads to the conclusion that they are largely overgrown with plants.

A linear relationship was also investigated between the lakeshore accessibility index and the ecological properties of the lakeshore (Fig. 2). The results of the analysis of the linear correlation coefficient, along with the linear regression function equations and their determination coefficients are presented in Table 3. Although they vary in the strength of mutual relationships, all the correlations are negative. It was demonstrated that the correlation between the lake accessibility index and presence of a belt of rushes measuring from 1 to 5 meters was statistically non-significant. In general, access to the lake water surface was most strongly correlated with the presence of emergent plants in the lake’s shoreline zone (r=-0.970), but this was mainly due to the occurrence of broader vegetation belts, over 5 meters in width (r=-0.782). With no statistical differences, the effect of this parameter on the accessibility of a lake water surface is not larger than that resulting from the occurrence of wetlands along the shore of a lake (r=-0.693). Based on the results of regression equations, it was demonstrated that a 10.8% decrease in the percentage of emergent vegetation (>5m) along the shore of a lake resulted in an increase in the lakeshore accessibility index by an average 1 point · 100m^-1.

Because of the varied ecological state and accessibility of the shores, the lakes under study possess different recreational potential, both theoretical and actually exploited. Although the analysis revealed differences in the accessibility of the shores of the lakes between both communes, it was difficult to determine any significant differences in how the lakes are used for sailing, bathing and sunbathing.

Development of sailing on lakes is conditioned mainly by their surface area. The minimum surface necessary for sailing is 100 ha [15, 38]. In both communes there are only two lakes: Grabowskie (140.7 ha) and Polaszkowskie (106.5 ha) which fulfil this prerequisite. Table 4 contains an analysis of the tourist capacity of both water reservoirs for sailing. Correctional factors, suggested by Klimaszewski [15] and applied to the calculations, decreased rather considerably the usable surface of the lakes compared to the initial, real size of the lakes. According to Klimaszewski [15] lakes between 100-500 ha offer at least suitable conditions for water sports. The need to reduce the number of sailing and other boats on a lake is connected with the presence of other (apart from sailors) lake users as well as the lake’s vulnerability to degradation. Thus, the lake’s length was associated with a correctional factor of 0.7.

An increment in the shoreline length versus the lake’s surface area means that the lake shoreline becomes elongated and, in general, the recreational capacity of the lake is raised [6]. The lake shoreline development factor for Grabowskie Lake is 1.62 and 2.22 for Polaszkowskie Lake [12]. This proves that the shorelines of those two lakes are moderately and strongly developed, respectively [33], which determines the correctional factor for both lakes (0.7 and 1.0, respectively) [15]. The shore accessibility of Grabowskie Lake (ca 50% of the shoreline is covered with a belt of above-water plants >5 m in width) and Polaszkowskie Lake (over 70% of the shoreline is overgrown with rushed forming a belt > 5m in width, and over 50% of the shoreline is adjacent to wetlands) influences the correctional factors of this property, which equal 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. The nature of the analysed properties meant that eventually the surface area suitable for sailing declined by about 2/3. The correctional factor of attractiveness suggested by Klimaszewski [15], in the light of the regional importance of both lakes, equalled 0.8.

The surface area of a lake per one sailing boat should provide sailors with proper comfort and secure enough room for manoeuvring water equipment [38]. At the lake capacity index is at 5ha · sailing boat^-1, the corrected total capacity for sailing of Grabowskie Lake is 8 sailing boats, and that of Polaszkowskie Lake is 6 sailing boats. Multiplying those figures by 3.2 persons per sailing boat^-1 [15] we can assume that sailing as an recreational activity can be enjoyed by about 25 persons at a time on Grabowskie Lake, and about 19 persons on Polaszkowskie Lake.

The above results imply that it is possible to develop sailing as a tourist business on both lakes, and a small investment such as opening a water equipment rental should be profitable. The tourist capacity indices applied are the lowest. According to the tourist capacity indices of a water surface used by Zwoliński [38] (4ha · boat^-1 and 5 persons per sailing boat^-1), the sailing capacity of Grabińskie Lake would be 48 persons, and that of Polaszkowskie Lake would reach 37 persons. Any lake would be more attractive if visitors could also hire water equipment that did not demand high qualifications to use it (e.g. canoes and paddle boats). Polaszkowskie Lake, with its higher elongation index, might appear more attractive to a tourist as a destination for the pursuit of water sports with water sport equipment. Dedio [5], who studied lakes in the north-west of Poland, concluded that elongated lakes with many inlets and islets were more attractive to tourists than those with less crenellated shoreline and a circle-like shape.

The most common type of recreational use of the lakes in both communes is angling. The size of the lakes does not put a limit on this recreational function, although difficult access to the shores can be an obstacle [27]. Angling can be pursued from a boat or from a lakeshore. Consequently, the total capacity of a lake for angling is the sum of the water surface capacity and shoreline capacity. For each lake both of these parameters were calculated and the results can be found in Table 5. The available literature on this subject lacks any reports containing indices of natural absorption capacity and water surface capacity of lakes for this form of leisure time activity. The authors assumed a linear index for water surface (2 boats · 100 m^-1 of the lake’s long axis), which enabled them to obtain the results from 0.3 ha · boat^-1 (Deka and Gackie lakes in Liniewo commune) to slightly above 2.5 ha · boat^-1 (Grabowskie Lake in Nowa Karczma commune).

Obviously, such values were attained for a limited set of lakes within the size values of 1.5 and 140.7 ha, which are characterised by an elongation index from 1.5 to 8.1. Nonetheless, they are comparable to American water surface indices for rowing boats, which range between 0.4 and 2.0 ha · boat^-1 [38]. In the set of lakes analysed here, the threshold value of the water surface index at 1 ha · boat^-1 was exceeded for the lakes of an area over 15 ha. The calculated values of the water surface capacity for angling are approximate and will be verified by a series of factors. On the one hand, the shores that are difficult to access but provide good fishing areas will encourage anglers to catch fish from boats, but at the same time they will hamper transport and launching of boats or their mooring at the shore. Introducing a larger number of boats on a lake requires some investment into the shoreline, such as constructing an angling harbour with piers that would provide easy access to boats, or at least an inclining ramp on the shore for launching boats.

Angling from the shore is much more popular as it does not require any investment such as hiring or buying and transporting a boat. The maximum shoreline capacity for angling on each lake was established on the basis of the existing angler paths as well as natural or man-made open spaces between water plant assemblages, and was expressed as a number of angling stands, spaced at a minimum 10 m distance. The highest shore capacity for angling was determined for Grabowskie Lake (248 angling stands) and Kamionki Duże (219 angling stands) in Nowa Karczma commune and Sobšckie Lake (474 angling stands) in Liniewo commune. The total shore capacity for angling is 1 092 angling stands in Nowa Karczma commune and 1 204 angling stands in Liniewo commune. When these statistics are compared to the water surface capacity expressed as the number of anglers per day, one can notice that in Liniewo commune the theoretical potential of lakeshore for this form of recreation is nearly 2.5-fold higher than the water surface capacity. For the commune of Nowa Karczma, such a comparison yields a 4.5-fold higher value. The capacity expressed as a number of angling stands defines the maximum potential of the shore zone for angling without creating new access points to the lake. Nevertheless, any direct application of those figures to the maximum load of the shore zone, expressed as a number of anglers who can simultaneously catch fish in a given lake each day, is highly risky. It is so because vegetation is assumed to be the essential index defining the natural environment’s absorption potential [25].

Thus, it should be remembered that full use of the shore angling capacity would lead to certain transformations of fragments of emergent plant assemblages, especially those which are adjacent to heavily visited angling stands. Rushes and sedges as plant assemblages are rather vulnerable to recreational exploitation of lake shores [18]. However, plants of the genus Phragmites sp., which grow in rushes on wetter land, are less vulnerable to tramping than Carex sp. plants, found on drier land [19]. Still, plant species belonging to either of the genera are mentioned as highly vulnerable to recreational activities of man [32]. Under light tramping in the lakeshore zone, a slight increase in the number of plant species has been observed on a path and its outer edges [24]. Intensity of recreational use should therefore take into account regeneration potential of floral assemblages. This is done by applying absorption capacity indices, which allow certain load of recreational traffic with a time limit [25]. Thus, it seems appropriate to convert the actual number of entry points per shoreline capacity of each lake into the number of anglers per week during the angling season. In practice, one entry point to the lakeshore would be used for angling every seven days on average. Such limitations would be less important if entry points were constructed as angling jetties (up to 10 m² in surface area) not stretching outside the sphere of emergent plants. Fishing jetties are part of the lakeshore management and define the shoreline capacity for recreation. They seem to exert the least negative effect on natural environment and, by channelling the pressure produced by anglers to the lakeshore, they reduce the risk of further degradation of emergent plants. Besides, they enhance the angling attractiveness of lakes, especially from the point of view of the elderly and the disabled [27].

Determining the lake water surface accessibility and expressing the resulting index as a number of points per 100 m of a lake shoreline (cf. Table 2) do not reflect fully recreational use of fragments of the lakeshore zone. A more complete picture can be attained by applying spatial analysis of the distribution of the actual entry points versus the spheres of emergent plants, different in widths. This way we can produce an image depicting potential localization of specific forms of recreation, thus assisting the planning of investments that would enhance the recreational attractiveness of lakes and nearby areas. Based on the above assumptions, the authors prepared a graphic presentation of the interpretation of the parameters defining accessibility of the lakes which appeared important for the development of tourism and recreation in both communes. They also determined the total capacity of the lakes for angling.

The long axis of Polaszkowskie Lake, the largest lake in Liniewo commune, runs along the NW-SE direction. The lake’s basin consists mainly of farmlands (70%) and forested areas (20%), with an increasing number of summer cottages. The south-eastern end of the lake, which lies in the neighbouring commune of Stara Kiszewa, is inaccessible as it is overgrown with a wide belt of emergent plants (Fig. 3). An approximate shore-based angling capacity of Polaszkowskie Lake is 20 persons · day^-1, reaching 112 persons · day^-1 for the whole water body.

Most of the lakeshore of Sobšckie Lake (Liniewo commune) is surrounded with forests or tree belts. A characteristic feature of the Sobackie’s basin is the continuous development of summer houses. With zones of helophytes >5 m in width growing along less than 40% of the lakeshore, Sobšckie Lake is characterized by the highest lakeshore accessibility among all the lakes in that commune (6.2 points · 100m^-1 of shoreline). The northern shores as well as the whole north-eastern end of the lake are most easily accessible (Fig. 4). An approximate shore-based capacity of Sobackie Lake is 68 persons · day^-1, and 172 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

Liniewskie Lake, the third largest lake in the commune of Liniewo, can be easily accessed by the road from Liniewo to Nowy Barkoczyn. Along the eastern shores of the lake there are some wetlands. Emergent plants, which are dominated by common reed (Phragmites communis), flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus), small reed-mace (Typha angustifolia) and sweet rush (Acorus calamus), cover ca 80% of the shoreline. Wild grassy beaches are found mainly on the southern bank of the lake, where some sections of the lakeshore, usually not longer than 200 m, have good access to water (Fig. 5). An approximate shore-based angling capacity of the lake is 15 persons · day^-1, and 71 persons · day^-1 for the whole water basin.

Orle lake (Liniewo commune) is a ribbon lake with a varied shoreline, whose long axis run along the NW-SE direction. Around 85% of the lake’s catchment is composed of coniferous forest, overgrowing the whole southern and large parts of the northern banks of the lake. The best access to the lake water surface is found in the south-western part of Orle Lake (Fig. 6). Emergent plants growing in belts wider than 5 meters occur most frequently in the north-eastern end of the lake. An approximate shore-based angling capacity of Orle Lake is 19 persons · day^-1, and 66 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

The shape of Starowieckie Lake (Liniewo commune) is typical of ground moraine lakes. The eastern banks of the lake together with some of its northern shore are adjacent to forested areas. The southern part of the lake’s catchment is arable. Nearly 60% of the shoreline is overgrown with a belt of helophytes measuring more than 5 meters in width. This means that access to the lake water surface is in many places either very difficult or completely impossible. In one place only, on the south-eastern bank, there is a shoreline section of about 100 meters in length which is free of water plants and this is where most of the swimming and sunbathing activities take place (Fig. 7). An approximate shore-based angling capacity is 7 persons · day^-1, and 36 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

Garczonki Lake (Liniewo commune) is a ribbon lake, whose long axis runs along the E-W direction, and the basin is dominated by farmlands and fallow land. The shoreline is largely overgrown with emergent vegetation creating a belt > 5m in width. Two 100-meter long sections of the northern shore and one section on the south-eastern shore are free of water plants (Fig. 8). The lake banks at those three points is fully accessible for recreation. An approximate shore-based angling capacity of Garczonki Lake is 5 persons · day^-1, and 31 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

Grabowskie Lake is the largest lake in the commune of Nowa Karczma. Its long axis runs along the WWS-EEN direction. The lake’s attractiveness for recreation is enhanced by a river, the Wierzyca, which flows across it, and an easy access from two nearby villages (Grabowo Koscierskie and Grabówko). Along the northern shore of Grabowskie Lake there are many summer cottages. Most of the direct catchment of the lake is agricultural in character. The southern bank of the lake is overgrown with a mixed forest, stretching for about 1.2 km. Some of the land around the is wet, often marshy. There are groups of black adler tress (Alnus glutinosa) present along the whole lakeshore. The northern and north-western parts of Grabowskie Lake are characterised by large assemblages of emergent plants, mainly common reed (Phragmites communis), which in some places creates vegetation belts 50 meters in width (Fig. 9). The best accessibility to the lakeshore can be found along the eastern and south-western banks. An approximate shore-based angling capacity is 35 persons · day^-1, and 118 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

Kamionki Duże Lake (Nowa Karczma commune) is a typical ribbon lake, running along the SW-NE axis. Most of the direct catchment of the lake is covered with forests, mainly beech woods (Fagus silvatica). The adjacent land is steep. It is only in the western part of the lake, at a length of about 750 meters, that the basin is agricultural in character (meadows and pastures) and the slopes are more gentle. Emergent plants are sporadic and the highest lakeshore accessibility indices are on the northern and southern banks of the lake (Fig. 10). Access to the lake is sporadically made impossible by short sections of wooded land. An approximate shore-based angling capacity for Kamionki Duże Lake is 31 persons · day^-1, and for the whole lake – 78 persons · day^-1.

The long axis of Psinko Lake (Nowa Karczma commune) runs along the SW-NE direction. The direct basin is a moderately levelled land, mostly covered with meadows, pastures and forests. The best access to the lake water surface can be found along its north-eastern end (Fig. 11). The shore-based angling capacity is reduced due to thick shrubs growing along the northern and southern lake banks. An approximate shore-based capacity for Psinko Lake is 16 persons · day^-1, and for the whole water body – 45 persons · day^-1.

Barkocińskie Lake (Nowa Karczma commune) is elongated along the SW-NE axis. The direct basin along the north-eastern and north-western banks is overgrown with forests, and the land adjacent to the lake is wet and overgrown with shrubs. This is where most of the emergent vegetation on Barkocińskie Lake is to be found (Fig. 12). The southern and eastern parts of the basin are covered with sporadic groups of trees, meadows and pastures. Along the eastern and southern banks of the lake runs a road, which makes access to the water reservoir easier. Barkocińskie Lake is characterized by the best accessibility to the lakeshore along the south-western shore. An approximate shore-based capacity for Barkocińskie Lake is 12 persons · day^-1, and around 30 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

Lubańskie Lake (Nowa Karczma commune) is a ribbon lake, whose long axis runs from east to west. There is a road to the lake, which gives easy access to the water body. The lake basin, covered with forests and arable lands, has quite large height differences. Most of the shoreline is characterized by very high water surface accessibility indices (Fig. 13). Emergent plants, forming small assemblages, appears only along the north-western and south-eastern banks. An approximate shore-based angling capacity for Lubańskie Lake is 20 persons · day^-1, and 38 persons · day^-1 for the whole lake.

The shore-based angling capacity for the remaining lakes in the commune of Nowa Karczma (Będomińskie Duże, Będomińskie Małe and Kamionki Małe) is about 42 persons · day^-1. Including the water surface capacity, their total angling capacity is about 94 persons · day^-1. The total potential angling capacity of the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune can be assessed at 403 persons · day^-1.

The shore-based angling capacity for the remaining lakes in the commune of Liniewo (Brzęczek, Bukowiec, Deka, Gackie, Garczyn, Gobrowo, Lonka, Przybroda and Szklanka) is about 39 persons · day^-1. Including the water surface capacity, the total angling capacity of the lakes in Liniewo commune can be assessed at 662 persons · day^-1.

Weekend recreational trips, for which suburban areas with forests and preferably water reservoirs are chosen, become increasingly important [30]. The communes of Liniwo and Nowa Karczma lie within the broader sphere of impact of Gdańsk agglomeration. Inhabitants of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia generate demand for tourism industry services in Kszuby Lake District and this process is expected to grow stronger. Beside, the unique tourism and health-related values of the belt of lakes in Pomorze (Pomerania), where both communes are situated, mean that human pressure on natural environment in this area will increase [16].

CONCLUSIONS

1. The factors which limit tourist and recreational functions of natural water bodies in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma include their small average surface area and obstacles in access to lake shores.

2. In the group of lakes analysed, and especially the ribbon ones, the lake surface accessibility was most strongly correlated with the presence of belts of emergent water plants >5 m in width. The lakes in Nowa Karczma commune have better lake surface accessibility indices.

3. Considering the limitations for the development of sailing in both communes, the predominant recreational function of the lakes there is angling. The total angling capacity of the lakes in the commune of Liniewo was approximately 662 persons · day^-1, and 403 persons · day^-1 for the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune.

4. The total angling capacity of the lakes in both communes is determined mainly by the lake surface capacity. However, due to the difficult access of anglers to boats, the actual load of angling activity on the lakes in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma is conditioned by the lakeshore capacity. An approximate shore-based angling capacity of the lakes in Liniewo commune of 172 persons · day^-1 and 156 persons · day^-1 in Nowa Karczma commune.




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Accepted for print: 02.01.2007

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Andrzej Skrzypczak
Department of Lake and River Fisheries,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
phone +48 89 523 33 88,
fax +48 89 523 39 69
email: sandacz@uwm.edu.pl

Aleksandra Szypiłło
Department of Lake and River Fisheries,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland

Błażej Zarębski
Department of Lake and River Fisheries,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland

Andrzej Mamcarz
Department of Lake and River Fisheries,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
phone +48 89 523 33 88,
fax +48 89 523 39 69
email: mamcarz@uwm.edu.pl


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