The Parsęta (formerly Prośnica) is full of contrasts. On the one hand, it is a medium-sized, meandering lowland river; on the other, it is the largest river of the Baltic coastal region, which in places resembles a mountain stream. The Parsęta has the longest stretch in Pomerania of uninterrupted, free-flowing channel without hydrotechnical obstacles – about 55 km – and remains passable for aquatic organisms along 144 km. This is exceptional on a regional scale.
Its sinuosity index is 1.55, and the terrain is particularly dynamic in the upper course, where gradients reach up to 3‰. For this reason, more than 100 impoundments once operated along the Parsęta. Today, almost all of them have fallen into disrepair, allowing large sections of the river to regain a relatively natural character and be shaped by natural hydrological processes. Among the larger structures, only the hydropower plant in Rościno – built in 1936 – remains in operation.
The many faces of the Parsęta:
• Upper Parsęta
The Parsęta begins in meadows at the site of a former lake near Parsęcko, at an elevation of 137 m above sea level. There, it resembles a narrow, regulated drainage ditch about 1.5 meters wide, carrying water away from wetlands, including the Chwalimskie Bog. Further downstream, the river quickly regains a natural character. It meanders, widening to 4 meters, then 6, and in its most pristine stretches reaches around 10 meters in width. The banks are lined with alders and willows, fallen tree trunks lie in the current, and the valley features floodplains, oxbow lakes, and patches of alder swamp forest.
Near Osówko begins the Parsęta gorge section, where the river cuts deeply into morainic hills. The riverbed becomes hard and stony. Further on, shallows, sandbanks, and strongly developed meanders appear. The landscape is raw, dynamic, and strikingly picturesque. In the upper course, traces of past human activity remain – such as a ruined concrete weir in Osówko or a former mill, whose building now houses a research station of Adam Mickiewicz University, studying the functioning of river catchment geoecosystems.
• Lower Parsęta
Below the hydropower plant in Rościno, the river widens to 30 meters before reaching Karlino. The riverbed is firm and free of silt, and in places the depth reaches 2 meters. This roughly 12-kilometer stretch sees large numbers of sea trout gathering in August and September as they migrate upstream. The area is wild, forested, and difficult to access, while the river current is varied and full of fallen logs and riffles. In Karlino, the Parsęta is joined by its largest tributary – the Radew – as well as two mill channels. The Radew itself has its own barriers: the cascade of reservoirs at Hajka and Rosnowo, and a weir in Bardzlino, which effectively blocks fish migration upstream beyond that point.
• DOLNA Parsęta
From Karlino toward Kołobrzeg, the valley becomes increasingly wide. The river reaches 40, and even 60 meters in width. The bed remains firm, sometimes stony. The banks are lower here, in places covered with shrubs. The slopes of the valley are covered with beautiful forests, some fragments of which – such as those near Wrzosowo – have a relict character. At the railway bridge in Kołobrzeg, the inland waters of the Parsęta end. Beyond this point begin internal and territorial marine waters.
Salmon – the symbol of the Parsęta River
It is impossible to talk about the Parsęta without mentioning the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). On a European scale, this species is considered Near Threatened (IUCN), and in Poland its status is classified as Critically Endangered. Most of the original genetic diversity of wild Baltic salmon has been lost – only 25 out of 90 original stocks have survived.
The main causes of decline? Hydropower structures, river fragmentation, and overexploitation in the Baltic Sea. In the second half of the 20th century, southern Baltic populations nearly disappeared.
Today, the number of adult salmon in the Parsęta basin is estimated at 200–300 individuals annually. Planned measures aim to increase this population by at least 20%. However, restocking is only one element of a broader approach. The most important actions include reopening migration routes, restoring habitats, protecting riparian vegetation, leaving large woody debris in the river channel, banning aggregate extraction, and ensuring effective monitoring.
A river under protection
The Parsęta catchment is part of the Natura 2000 network. Since 2016, the fisheries user of the Parsęta fishing district has been the Association of Cities and Municipalities of the Parsęta River Basin. A ban on Atlantic salmon fishing has been introduced, along with quantitative and size limits for other species and a “no-kill” rule on many tributaries and in the upper reaches of the Parsęta. Industrial fishing is not planned here – activities are focused on recreational angling.
A major project to modernize water and sewage infrastructure in 22 municipalities of the basin has significantly reduced wastewater discharges into the river, improving water quality.
A project to restore connectivity in three tributaries of the Parsęta – the Perznica, Radusza, and Gęsia – has also been completed.
Despite this, existing hydrotechnical structures still hinder fish from reaching spawning grounds, often located in the upper reaches of rivers. This problem affects not only salmon, but also the river lamprey, whose migration and reproduction are limited by barriers and river regulation that deprives the river of meanders and gravel riffles.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
