Summary:

The analysis of time variability of riverbed elevation recorded at eight cross-sections of the Upper Vistula River is presented in the paper. The variability is analyzed on the base on the observed low annual water stages and the cross-sectional geometry variation observed over decades. Furthermore, the analysis of riverbed changes in the years 2001 - 2011 was done in 16 cross-sections located between the Koło and Zawichost gauging stations.
Based on the analyzed changes in the riverbed elevation of the eight tested gauging stations it should be noted that since the beginning of the observation period, that is from about the beginning of the 20th century to the mid 1960's, in the Upper Vistula River riverbed erosion can be observed with a slight tendency for accumulation. As a result of technical regulations of the river channel of the Vistula River from km 247 +000 to 295 +000 carried out in the years 1975 to 1982, intensive processes of riverbed erosion has occured. In most of the 16 profiles it was found that in the years 2001-2011 the river channel was deepened. The occurrence of local riverbed deepening at the river banks was also observed.