Effects of land use changes on surface runoff

Land use changes which have occured during the last eight decades in the subcatchment of the Krupá River catchment are analysed; historical and actual panchromatic aerial photographs, historical cadastral maps and old forest maps are available for this period and were used as a background to assess land use changes.Through the SCS - CN method, we have estimated how the runoff processes in the Krupá River catchment have been influenced by land use changes. Runoff conditions in the catchment have been assessed by curve number (CN). The CN was calculated for the upper reaches of the Krupá River catchment for 1936 and 2002. Runoff conditions were affected by changes of forest border and arable land transformation into meadows and pastures. Changes in age structure and species composition of forest were reflected in the CN.