Environmental problems caused by the extraction of non-metallic building materials from riverbeds

Abstract

Extraction of non-metallic building materials from rivers can lead to negative consequences, such as disruption of the structure of the river bed, change in the balance of sediment intake. It can also lead to the undermining of the fish food supply, destroy spawning grounds, and reduce the ability of the river to self-purification. Data for the section of the Pripyat River at the Lubansky Bridge for the period from 1978 to 2018 were used. To study the impact on the river ecosystem of the planned work on the extraction of non-metallic building materials, an approach was used to determine the ecological runoff when a natural speed regime is formed, which ensures the natural functioning of the ecosystem. Digital models of the bottom relief in 2021 and 2022 showed a positive trend in the formation of sediments in the studied area. The volume of possible material intake was established, which amounted to 33122.5 m3. At the same time, the estimated volume of sediment formation within this site is 11034 m3 per year, then it is possible to carry out work on the intake of non-metallic building materials on the studied section of the river no more than once every three years.