Geogaphica Timisiensis, vol. 19, nr.1, 2010 (pp. 371 386) ●
THE ROLE OF THE ANTHROPIC FACTOR IN THE FORMATION AND EVOLUTION OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE EASTERN PART OF ROMANIA. CASE STUDY: BAHLUI DRAINAGE BASIN
IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC University „Al.I.Cuza” Ia i
Abstract: Anthropic activities have, mainly in the last decades, a main role in the formation and evolution of water resources from Bahlui basin. Land use, the construction of reservoirs (used in different purposes) and ponds or enclosures, flood control works, dams and bank consolidation, land improvement or water alimentation, to which adds the settlements and transportation networks, have decisively hall marked the formation of surface and underground water resources, their quality and regime, Bahlui hydrographic basin being considered one of the most (hydrologically) human managed basins from the country.
Rezumat: Rolul factorului antropic în formarea i evoluŃia resurselor de apă în partea de est a României. Studiu de caz: bazinul hidrografic Bahlui. ActivităŃile antropice au, mai ales în ultimele decenii, un rol primordial în formarea i evoluŃia resurselor de apă din bazinul Bahlui. Modul de utilizare a terenului, construcŃia de lacuri de acumulare (utilizate în diferite scopuri) i iazuri sau incinte piscicole, lucrările de regularizare, îndiguire i consolidări de maluri, de îmbunătăŃiri funciare sau cele legate de alimentarea cu apă (a populaŃiei i zonelor industriale), la care se adaugă reŃeaua de localităŃi i căi de transport, i au pus amprenta decisiv în formarea resurselor de apă de suprafaŃă i din subteran, în calitatea i regimul acestora, bazinul hidrografic Bahlui, fiind considerat unul dintre cele mai „antropizate” bazine (din punct de vedere hidrologic) din Ńara noastră.
Keywords : water resources, hydrographic basin, evolution, management Cuvinte cheie: resurse de apă, bazin hidrografic, evoluŃie, management
1. INTRODUCTION
In Romania, Bahlui basin is situated in the north eastern part, covering an area with central north eastern position in the Moldavian Plateau, entering the hydrographic system of Middle Prut River (Fig 1). In this idea, Bahlui is a right tributary of Jijia, in its sector of common floodplain with Prut. This situation gives Bahlui basin a certain genetic, evolutional and hydrological autonomy in relation to those of Jijia and Prut, manifested during time and in the mode of water resources’ formation and evolution, as well as in the role of the human factor in their management.
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Fig. 1 The geographic position of Bahlui basin in Romania PoziŃia geografică a bazinului hidrografic Bahlui în cadrul României
Being considered one of the most human managed basins in the country, 71% hydrotechnically managed ( Savin Nicoleta, 1998), Bahlui basin may be considered as model in the efficient management of water resources in the eastern part of Romania, model that may be extended at the level of the entire space between Prut and Siret. In this sense we had in view the analysis of the human factor’s impact in the formation and evolution of water resources in this basin, by closely monitoring: land use, the formation of reservoirs and ponds, the realization of some hydrotechnical works (regularization, damming, bank consolidation), of land improvements or of those regarding water alimentation (of population and industrial areas), to which add the settlements and transportation networks.
2. LAND USE
The socio economic activities have led to changes in the geographical landscape from Bahlui basin through the process of terrains’ agricultural use, through the action of development and industrialization of the human settlements and transportation’ networks. The changes induced in the landscape influence directly or indirectly river discharge and the hydrologic balance at the level of the entire basin. The agricultural use of the terrains produced most and the profoundest changes in the landscape of Bahlui basin. Analyzing the structure of the land use fund at the level of year 2000 (Fig. 2) we see that arable terrains occupy over 35% of the basin, followed by pastures (17%) and forests (14%). A high percentage is detained by agriculturally complex used surfaces (10.5) and by settlements (9%). IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC ● 373
The effect of this distribution is manifested on field through the intensification of erosion processes at the level of high slopes, where the soil cover is gradually removed, fact that favors the increase in the flash flood potential of small rivers and in the solid discharge (fig. 2 a and b).
Fig. 2 a Main land use types in Bahlui drainage basin in 1984 Principalele tipuri de utilizare a terenului în bazinul hidrografic Bahlui în 1984
Fig. 2b Main land use types in Bahlui drainage basin in 2000 Principalele tipuri de utilizare a terenului în bazinul hidrografic Bahlui în 2000
In the present study we tried to evidence the changes brought in the structure of land use in the last 30 years. In this idea we departed from the topographic maps scale 1:25.000, edition 1984, as well as from a series of Landsat TM satellite images from 2000. 374 ● The role of the anthropic factor in the formation and evolution of water resources
We applied the methodology proposed by European Environmental Agency in the analysis of terrain utilization in the Corine Land Cover projects (with certain modifications), identifying 10 main classes of land use. The classes identified have been extrapolated to the entire succession of topographic maps, satellite images and aerial photos. The statistical data obtained regarding the distribution of areas with different land use at certain time intervals allowed for a spatio temporal analysis at the level of the entire basin. At the same time have been obtained a series of correlations between the different land use categories, terrain altitude and slope declivity, from which conclusions were drawn regarding land use improvement. Analyzing the evolution of land use categories at the basin level during the last 30 years, we notice a different spatial dynamics of surfaces occupied by settlements. Their increase occurred in the disadvantage of quasi natural surfaces, mainly of those with hygrophille vegetation (very many constructions have been emplaced in the floodplain of Bahlui, mainly after 1990, but also of its tributary Nicolina). This dynamic was accentuated during 2000 2009, when this sector took a special impetus. As a consequence of the implementation of Law 18/1991, increased also the percentage of surfaces occupied by arable terrains (less in the case of complex agriculture) and of pastures, in the disadvantage of those occupied by forests (that suffered a decrease of over 2500 ha at the level of the entire basin), orchards and vineyards or areas with hygrophille vegetation. After Romania’s adhesion to the European Union in 2007 and the realization (in the future) of some programs /projects of territorial planning on the basis of European funds, there is the possibility of modifying the spatial structure of use categories by restraining the fragmentation degree in the case of agricultural terrains, and through a better monitoring of the extension in constructed areas. At the level of 2000, with altitude (Fig. 4) may be seen an accentuated diminishment of agricultural surfaces. The positioning of Bahlui basin at the contact of three physico geographical sub units of the Moldavian Plateau: Jijia Hilly Plain (under 150 m) and Sucevei Plateau in west, and respectively “Coasta Ia ilor” to south (over 150 m altitude), leads to a situation where agricultural terrains have a large extension between 35 and 200 m. In the same span enter also pastures, which often are emplaced on the cuesta fronts affected by geomorphologic processes ( Cojocaru, 2008). Areas occupied by forests have a high percentage at altitudes over 200 m, where occur natural forests specific to the Moldavian Plateau (in which dominate associations of Quercus and Fagus). Under this limit, these areas occur rarely, being in fact forestry plantations of fir and acacia, with role in slope protection.
IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC ● 375 bazinul
/ Utilizarea terenului, la nivelul anului 1984, în hidrografic Bahlui Fig. 3 Land use in 1984 in Bahlui drainage basin
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zinul hidrografic
Bahlui
Utilizarea terenului, la nivelul anului 2006, în ba
Fig. 4 Land use in 2006 in Bahlui drainage basin/ If we have in mind the distribution of land use classes according to slope, we notice in general that all classes occupy surfaces that increase progressively disregarding the slope (with the exception of the areas with slopes over 18 0, where may be found patches of IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC ● 377 forests with role of protection and for grazing, which cover the cuesta foreheads of high declivity), respecting the percentage they have in relation to the basin’s total surface. The same situation is found when correlating land use classes with slope exposition, when only the presence of forests (the same protection plantations) on certain slopes of western or north western exposition does not respect this rule, due to the forestations conducted on cuesta foreheads.
Fig. 5 Distribution of land use types in 2000 according to altitude classes DistribuŃia utilizării terenului, la nivelul anului 2000, în funcŃie de clasele de altitudine
Fig. 6 Distribution of land use types in 2000 according to slope classes in Bahlui basin DistribuŃia utilizării terenului, la nivelul anului 2000, în funcŃie de clasele de pantă
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3. RESERVOIRS AND PONDS
In Bahlui basin have been realized a series of direct interventions on the hydrographic network and the regime of river discharge. These interventions have an organized character and had in view the realization of: reservoirs with multiple utilization; impermanent accumulations for attenuating flood waves and protection against inundations for urban and industrial areas (polders). All these interventions have had as main purpose ensuring water needs for domestic and industrial use (especially for Ia i), protection of population and agricultural terrains against inundations and floods, as well as the attenuation of these risk phenomena, discharge regularization, water use in animal husbandry farms and irrigations, creation of fishing or recreation units. In the realization of these accumulations may be distinguished in the 20 th century two main periods. In the first half of the century the number of aquatic surfaces was reduced under the effect of the 1921 agrarian reform (that led to the disappearance of ponds, especially of the small ones, due to a bad management, most of them being clogged or even drained so as to increase arable surface). From the second half of the century (after 1955), their number increased significantly due to the process of territorial planning applied at the level of the entire basin. In this sense, existent aquatic units have been „reconditioned”, most of them being transformed into reservoirs, each of them having built a dam of impermeable materials (clay). We can mention the 9 reservoirs from Valea Oii, realized most of them on the emplacement of old ponds, or those from the valleys of Gurguiata, Albe ti, Sine ti etc. The construction of such reservoirs had as main purpose, as we mentioned earlier, the regularization of rivers’ discharge, flood attenuation and preventing inundations affecting Ia i. They may retain, when needed, a water level of 7 9 m, as for example during the torrential rains from 1965 and 1969, yet currently they have a normal exploitation regime ( Maria Pantazică, 1974). Presently, the hydrotechnical management scheme of Bahlui basin includes the following complex reservoirs: Pârcovaci on Bahlui, 6 km upstream the town of Hârlău (with a surface of 50 ha and a cumulated water volume of 5 mil.m 3); Tansa on Bahlui, at Tansa (352 ha, cumulated water volume of 13,1 mil m 3); Plopi on Gurguiata; Sârca on râul Valea Oii; Podu Iloaiei on BahlueŃ, upstream the confluence with Bahlui (150 ha, cumulated water volume of 13.4 mil.m 3); Cucuteni on Voine ti; Rediu on Rediu, at about 1 km upstream Ia i; Ciurbe ti on Locii, tributary of Nicolina; Ezăreni on Izăreni; Aroneanu on Ciric; Ciric III on Ciric; ChiriŃa on ChiriŃa; To these add a series of un permanent reservoirs: Ciurea on Nicolina; IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC ● 379
Cornet on Cornet; Bârca on Locii; Cârlig on Cacaina; Vânători on Cacaina; Văme oaia polder on Văme oaia. The total volume of the 18 reservoirs is of 219 mil.m 3, of which 37 mil.m 3 useful volume, 70 mil.m 3 protection volume and 97 mil.m 3 attenuation volume. In comparison to the mean multiannual stock of the basin of 82 mil.m3, the useful volume of the reservoirs (37 mil.m 3) represents a regularization coefficient of 0.45. The surface occupied by the water of these reservoirs exceeds 2000 ha, meaning about 1% of the basin surface, and the total surface of the hydrographic basins controlled by these accumulations is of 1390 km 2, that represents 71% of the total surface ( Savin Nicoleta, 1998). To evidence the role that these reservoirs detain in regulating discharges and attenuating flood waves, we may take as example the lake Tansa Belce ti. This lake, with a maximum volume of 27.12 mil m 3, might consume to fill to maximum capacity the tributary discharges for a period of about 275 days (calculated at mean multiannual value). At the same time, in the basin of this lake may be taken in the highest floods, with occurrence probabilities of 0.5 1%. The same situation is with Podu Iloaiei lake, that may consume for maximum capacity filling the tributary discharges for a period of 350 days or the floods with a occurrence probability of 0.1 0.5%. In this way the mean and maximum discharge is radically modified through the regularization of maximum discharge rates and attenuating flood waves ( Minea , 2005). Along the permanent or temporary reservoirs, at the basin level have been realized over 150 accumulations or ponds of different dimensions, most of them on Bahlui’s tributaries, used in hydrotehnics (discharge regularization, flood wave attenuation) and economy (fishery). Among the accumulations used and as fisheries we mention those around Podu Iloaiei (downstream Podu Iloaiei reservoir, on BahlueŃ, with a surface of over 42.5 ha), along Gurguiata (Pepiniera Huc, with a surface over 49 ha, Iaz Cicadaia, 51 ha, Iaz Strâmbu, 87 ha) or those from Valea Oii area (Iaz Mădârje ti, with a surface over 41 ha). The cumulated surface of these fishery ponds (we have taken into account only those larger than 5 ha) easily exceeds 1000 ha (about 0.5% of the basin surface).
4. REGULARIZATIONS, DAMMING AND BANK CONSOLIDATIONS
Along the large hydrotechnical works that had as result the creation of reservoirs, in Bahlui basin have also been conducted a series of adjacent regularizations, damming and bank consolidations. The purpose of these works is mainly of protecting against floods Iasi and other localities, as well as the agricultural terrains nearby the floodplain. The first ideas for such works appeared in 1785, in a report made by Count Alexandre d’Hauterive to ruler Alexandru Ipsilanti , in which was proposed the realization of a navigable channel along Bahluiului in the area of Ia i. Even if the idea was abandoned, it was revived during the Organic Rules (1832), where in article 158 was mentioned linking Siret and Prut through a water channel overlapping Bahlui and its tributary, BahlueŃ. Later, in 1862, as a consequence of moving the capital of the United Pricipates of Moldova and Romanian Country from Ia i to Bucure ti , the politician Mihail Kogălniceanu asked for a 380 ● The role of the anthropic factor in the formation and evolution of water resources series of economic compensations for the previous capital, among them the creation of the navigable channel Bahlui Prut, through which Ia i would have become a port. In the 60 70s were conducted regularization works on Bahlui’s floodplain, as a consequence of the floods that threatened Ia i (especially the districts of Dacia, Alexandru cel Bun and Mircea cel Bătrân). With this occasion was realized the regularization of Bahlui along Ia i, on a length of over 14 km, and were constructed canal embankments (Fig. 7). During the 80s, specialists of the Ministry of Environment have elaborated a plan for transforming Bahlui in a navigable river, but it was abandoned, not being taken as a priority. The project envisaged regularizing the sinuous course of the river between LeŃcani and Ia i by creating a channel LeŃcani Ia i, and giving the municipality some tens of hectares for developing investment projects. In the last years, beginning with 2002, the Mayor of Ia i revived the idea of transforming Bahlui in a navigable river (this project being included in the Ia i County Territorial Planning Program made by Habitat Proiect , initiated, financed and approved by Ia i County Council), making the connection to Prut, thus linking Ia i to the Black Sea. The project implied constructing two ports in Ia i county, and Prut river to become a natural reserve continuing the Danube Delta. In a first phase was desired the regularization of the riverbed on the territory of Ia i, and a second the regularization of the course, constructing dams and the river bed deepening, including concreting, so as that Bahlui would become navigable at least for small boats. These works did not have in mind only the area of Ia i. The regularization of Bahlui floodplain was conducted and in the territories of Hârlău and Podu Iloaiei townships, and also in the LeŃcani Ia i sector, on a length of about 10 km. Also, was regularized and dammed the course of Nicolina in the area of Ia i, on a length of over 5 km, for the protection against floods of the industrial platform C.U.G. Ia i, of the industrial area and the urban areas nearby the floodplain; as well as the course of Văme oaia River. Other regularization and damming works have been realized on the course of BahlueŃ, in the area of Târgu Frumos, on a length of about 3 km, works that were extended in the last years, especially upstream the town (on about 2.5 km, Fig. 7). On the overall, at the basin level have been dammed 32.3 km (both along Bahlui and its tributaries: BahlueŃ, Nicolina, Ciric and Văme oaia), and the hydrographic network has been regularized on 27.6 km.
5. LAND IMPROVEMENT
According to the physico geographical and socio economical conditions, during time in Bahlui basin have been realized a series of land improvement works for the increase of water and soil use quality. These works have regarded mainly a reduction in soil erosion, amplified in the last decades by human pressure and the often changes in land use. Cojocaru (2008) identified two periods in the realization of these land improvement works: the period between 1989, that witnessed a maximum during 1960 1985, when were conducted the main hydrotechnical works in the basin, anti erosional works at the slopes level and complex management projects for representative hydrographic basins (case of ScobâlŃeni basin, where have been conducted projects that implied establishing the optimal road network for agricultural exploitations and adopting corresponding structures of IonuŃ MINEA, IonuŃ VASILINIUC ● 381 crops). At the same time, have been held in view a series of complementary specific works of preventing soil erosion, eliminating humidity excess (through drainage channels or decreasing the underground water level through deep plowing), or managing landslides affected slopes (evacuation channels, drainage, planting etc). We may exemplify for this period the drainage works from Bahlui floodplain in Podu Iloaiei Ia i sector, the consolidation of the main courses’ floodplains (both on Bahlui and the tributaries), realization of forestry plantations with acacia and fir for the protection of landslide affected slopes (south of Târgu Frumos and on the left bank of Podu Iloaiei reservoir) etc. Other hydrotechnical works have implied the realization of an irrigation system in the area of Belce ti township, of over 1800 ha (between 1976 1980, today completely destroyed) or local / punctual irrigation systems on small surfaces. All these works have been conducted for the increase of agricultural productivity on the terrains cultivated on slopes or for introducing in the agricultural circuit on unproductive terrains. the present period (after 1989), when due to a lack of funds or even neglect have no longer been conducted such works. More, a series of improvements made between 1989 have been destroyed or dissolved, the effects being felt in soil and water quality.
6. WATER ALIMENTATION
Along with the economic development of Ia i and its neighboring area and in the conditions in which in Bahlui basin water alimentation sources for population and different economic objectives have proven extremely reduced, even from the first part of the 17 th century appeared the problem of identifying and using areas (rivers) that would insure the town’s water needs. Form the multitude of projects partially or totally realized we mention: the catchment and water alimentation from the sources Aroneanu Ciric apte Oameni, finalized in the second half of the 18 th century (1843, during the ruling of Mihail Sturza); the local works for catchment and water alimentation from the areas Sărăriei, Păcurari, Valea Seacă and Sf. Spiridon Hospital, finalized in the second half of the 19th century; the water catchment and adduction from the area of Timi e ti, projected and realized under the instructions of the English engineer William H. Lindley, during 1907 1911; the water catchment and adduction from Prut, realized during 1956 1957. Among these projects, the last two have brought the most important changes in what regards the geographic landscape and the rivers and underground waters’ hydrologic regime in Bahlui basin. The works for catchment and adduction from the Timi e ti area conducted by the Austrian society Union Baugesellschaft between 1907 and 1911 implied the realization of a catching drain in the area of Ozana’s alluvial cone (at Timi e ti) and then, through a pipe 102 km long, water was brought to Ia i on the direction Timi e ti Miroslove ti Nisipore ti Strunga Târgu Frumos Sârca Podu Iloaiei LeŃcani Ia i. The initial project implied another route on the direction Timi e ti Săbăoani OŃeleni Brăie ti Sine ti Hărpă e ti Pău e ti Cucuteni Ia i, yet from this was realized only a small part between Săbăoani OŃeleni 382 ● The role of the anthropic factor in the formation and evolution of water resources
Albe ti Sârca. The initial projected water volume for the water alimentation of Ia i was of 15000 m 3/day. Later, the route suffered some changes and on the 102 km of pipe was constructed a water treatment station at Săbăoani, a small power hydro electric power plant at Strunga (in 1984, with an installed power of 230kw), and water adductions for Roman, Strunga, Târgu Frumos, BălŃaŃi, Podu Iloaiei, LeŃcani and Ia i ( Peiu, Simionescu, 1999) Due to the large requirements of water both for population alimentation and its use in industry, between 1970 and 1973 was a doubling in the pipe’s diameter and an increase in the water volume brought to Ia i with 1200 l/s (from 300 l/s before – 2600 m 3/zi, to 1500 l/s, meaning 130000 m 3/zi). At the same time was dug the tunnel between the basins of Bahlui and Siret, in the area of Strunga ( Vieru, 2008). The same high water requirements have imposed and the realization of the project that included a series of water interceptions and adductions from Prut. The works were conducted in a very short time period, from May 1956 to July 1957, and implied the realization of a Kingston valve in the floodplain of Prut, la 2 km upstream łuŃora, and then, through 3 pipes, water has been brought in the treatment station from orogari. For cleaning the water taken from Prut, its distribution as industrial water and the creation of a reserve to cover water necessities in case of problems with the łuŃora valve, was created lake ChiriŃa, with a capacity of 5 mil.m 3, which entered functioning at la 10 August 1964. Later the Kingston valve was moved 200 m downstream the initial place and was realized a treatment station in the area of ChiriŃa lake, as well as the doubling in water transport capacity from Prut to ChiriŃa, on a length of 11 km. In 1995, in Ia i reached a water volume of about 424729 m 3/day (4916 l/s) from which: 1132 l/s (97800 m 3/day) from Timi e ti, 7 l/s (603 m 3/day) from local sources and 3777 l/s (326326 m 3/day) from Prut ( Peiu, Simionescu, 1999). At this moment, the values of intercepted discharges is approximately at the same level as in 1995, with some variations according to the regional climatic conditions (in dry years they reduce significantly, and in normal years come back to projected values). The local sources of water alimentation from Aroneanu Ciric apte Oameni area have functioned up to 1980, and in 1986 have been re directioned to Aroneanu Township. The Valea Seacă station has been closed, the one from Repedea partially aliments Bucium district with a discharge rate of 4 l/s (346 m 3/day), that from Valea Chilii (1 l/s, 90 m 3/day) some commercial societies from Metalurgiei area, and the one from the Ciric Plateau (0,5 l/s) the area of Ia i Airport ( Vieru, 2008). Presently, at the basin level the water adduction networks have a length of over 428 km, from which 262 km from Timi e ti, 74 in Prut Valley and 92 km from other sources. Reporting the volume of distributed water in 2006 to the present population of the city (305.978 inhabitants – www.primaria ia i.ro ) results a specific volume of over 1100 l/inhabitant per day (without taking into account industrial consumption and losses from the distribution network), situation that places Ia i between localities with highest specific consumes per capita from the country, comparable to that of European cities. For Hârlău water alimentation is done from the following sources: Fierbătoarea Deleni (6 l/s), Pârcovaci reservoir (50 l/s, water being treated in a station in Bojica district and then collected in a 2500 m 3 reservoir, then distributed to consumers), Sticlăria (3 l/s; aliments S.C. Lactis S.A.), Blăge ti Pa cani (15 l/s).
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Fig. 8 General scheme of urban water alimentation in Bahlui basin Schema generală de alimentare cu apă a ora elor din bazinul hidrografic Bahlui
Along these sources, in the rural area water alimentation is made from wells and fountains. The water alimentations conducted around or in Bahlui basin have brought important changes of the hydrologic regime. Thus, for the catchments made form local resources we may talk about a change in underground water table according to the water discharge and volume exploited. The catchments conducted outside the basin bring a supplementary water volume, which in the end reaches Bahlui, modifying the discharge especially downstream the water treatment station from Dancu, but also some physico chemical properties (temperature through the input of used warmer waters from the urban area, chemistry and quality, through the input of waste waters). Taking into account that the four towns (Ia i, Târgu Frumos, Podu Iloaiei and Hârlău) and 6 townships (Belce ti, Ciurea Lunca CetăŃuii, Hălăuce ti, Holboca Dancu, Tome ti and Vlădeni), only at Ia i the treatment station functions at optimum parameters, the anthropic impact on water chemistry and quality being significant. At the same time, through the distribution network of over 900 km (for the entire basin) and the sanitation one of over 4550 km are registered a series of loses that are found after at the level of the local underground water table and which later will aliment the basin’s hydrographic network.
7. HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
Situated mostly on the Territory of Ia i County, Bahlui basin includes 49 townships, with a number of 155 villages. The total population of these localities exceeds 450000 inhabitants. The configuration and evolution of the settlements in the basin represents a symbiosis between the physico geographical conditions and the economical and historical evolution, natural conditions being favorable to urban and rural settlements’ development. In the basin are included four towns: Ia i, Târgu Frumos, Hârlău and Podu Iloaiei, each with its own system of water alimentation for population and industrial objectives and also for 384 ● The role of the anthropic factor in the formation and evolution of water resources evacuation, fact that imposed important changes in the regime and quality of surface and underground waters. The density of rural settlements averages 7 12 localities/100 km 2, but there are areas in the basin where it decreases under 4 6 localities/100 km 2 (especially at the limit with Bârlad basin to south and with the Siret to north west). If at the country level a town serves in average 1006 km 2 and 55.7 rural settlements, in Bahlui basin the index for rural territory coverage is of 1367 km 2 and 105 sate ( Băcăuanu et.al., 1980) In what regards the transportation network, the most important are the roads, followed by railroads. The road network is denser than the railway one, being more adapted to landforms. The mean density of roads is of 38.7 km/100 km 2, much higher than the country average (Fig. 9). This is explained by landscape conditions, important roads being developed especially along the hydrographic network, as it is the case of the European road E583, which links Ia i to Pa cani, and which closely follows Bahlui and its tributary BahlueŃ’s floodplains, west of Podu Iloaiei. To these adds and the dispersion of the rural settlements, which imposes the ramification of the road network. The density of railroads is of 4.6 km/100 km 2, equal to the national average. In the basin there is a main electrified railroad, with relations that link Ia i to Pa cani, which doubles the European road E583 and two secondary ones: Podu Iloaiei Hârlău, that follows Bahlui valley, and LeŃcani Boto ani, that follows the valley of Ileana brook, and then passes in Jijia basin. The road and railroad networks have imposed great efforts for their emplacement (earthworks, canal embankments, modifications of water courses, dammed areas etc), that led to important changes in the hydrographic network and water’s flowing regime (both at surface and underground).
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Fig. 9 Human settlements’ network in Bahlui basin Fig. 9 ReŃeaua de localităŃi din bazinul hidrografic Bahlui
CONCLUSIONS
Having in view the analysis conducted, we may say that at the level of Bahlui basin exists a continuous adaptation of the anthropic factor in the exploitation and evolution of water resources, adaptation manifested poignantly and in the general management plans realized by hydrologists (including those from Prut Ia i Water Directorate), and which is based on the previously mentioned elements. Also, taking into account the physico geographical and socio economic conditions characteristic to the Siret Prut region, this basin may be taken as an analysis model, and the water resources’ valorification may be extrapolated at basin level for the entire area from eastern Romania and even abroad (on the Republic of Moldova or Ukraine).
386 ● The role of the anthropic factor in the formation and evolution of water resources
REFERENCES
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