Landscape and hydromorphological assessment of river valleys as a method for delineating natural and cultural landscape protection zones as applied to a reach of the Vistula near the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, Poland

Rivers and their surroundings significantly affect the character and quality of the landscape. These landscapes have been created or defined to a considerable degree by the river. This specific quickly changing type of landscape is in a need of decision making as to which parts of it should be protected. This article is an attempt to assess the landscape of a reach of the Vistula river in Poland, considering the hydromorphological components of the riverbed. Moreover, the aim of this research was to determine which vistas should be protected. We have used landscape and hydromorphological assessment. The method integrates the ECOVAST landscape assessment for evaluating quality and identification with the hydromorphological assessment method for assessing river quality. Hydromorphological, landscape, and integrated elements were assessed at cross-sections. The cross-sections were marked at 500 m interval. Additional cross-section was chosen based on the local characteristics. The values assigned to the parameters during the landscape and hydromorphological assessment varied significantly. Following the landscape and hydromorphological assessment, we delineated zones of the Vistula river landscape in need of protection along the Piekary–Ściejowice–Kraków (Tyniec) reach. Integrating landscape and hydromorphological characteristics is efficient in the assessment of riverbeds. Such assessment should be used while shaping landscape of the river valleys by local development plans and landscape protection programmes.