Full Report (PDF, 6 M)

Contents

Introduction

SECTION 1 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN

1.1 The Volga River Basin topography and geology

1.2 Structure of the Volga River Basin hydrographic network

1.3 Geomorphic subdivision of the Volga River Basin into typical sub-basins

1.4 Climate of the Volga River Basin

1.5 Hydrology of the Volga River Basin

1.6 Soil cover of the Volga River Basin

1.7 Natural vegetation cover and its anthropogenic transformations in the Volga River Basin

1.8 Land use history of the Volga River Basin

SECTION 2 SOIL EROSION IN THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN

2.1 General overview of factors and intensity of soil erosion in the Volga River Basin

2.2 Historical review of soil erosion rates in the Volga River Basin

2.3 Detailed case studies of erosion rates within small catchments

SECTION 3 GULLY EROSION IN THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN

3.1 Modern distribution of gully erosion in the Volga River Basin

3.2 Variation of gully erosion rates during the period of intensive agriculture

3.3 Sediment export from gullies into river valleys of the Volga River Basin

3.4 Modern tendencies of gully erosion development in the Volga River Basin

SECTION 4 SMALL RIVERS OF THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN

4.1 General characteristics of small rivers of the Volga River Basin

4.2 Anthropogenic decrease of small river network length in the Volga River Basin

4.3 Small river aggradation in the Volga River Basin

4.4 Small river floodplains in the Volga River Basin

4.5 Case study. Regional-scale evaluation of small river bank erosion rates: the Udmurtiya Republic

SECTION 5 SEDIMENT REDISTRIBUTIUON WITHIN THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN

5.1 General large-scale analysis of recent fluvial sediment redistribution within the Volga River Basin

5.2 Case study 1. Evaluating influence of different factors on sediment redistribution within the Oka River Basin

5.3 Case study 2. Sediment budget change in the Zusha River basin during the period of intensive agriculture