SEKANT PIRMŲJŲ VENTOS UPĖS VANDENS MATAVIMO STOČIŲ LIETUVOS TERITORIJOJE ISTORIJOS PĖDSAKAIS
FOLLOWING THE HISTORICAL TRAILS OF THE FIRST WATER MEASURING STATIONS OF THE VENTA RIVER IN LITHUANIA

Summary/Abstract: Although hydrometric observations and water measurement stations (hereinafter referred to as VMS) began to be established in independent Lithuania in 1919, the first Venta VMS was installed on November 2, 1924 in the village of Pumpurai (recently named Kurmaičiai), about 7 km north west of Mažeikiai town, near the old railway bridge. In the proceedings of Lithuanian hydrologists of that period, it was called simply Venta VMS. Hydrological measurements here in interwar Lithuania continued for 18 years. At the same time, various sources indicate that VMS on the Venta River operating for shorter or longer periods were also established during the reign of the Russian Empire. Venta VMS was one of six stations operating in 1902-1905 in connection with the renewed studies of the construction of the Venta-Dubysa Canal. Maybe this VMS was the first, i.e. the oldest one in the Lithuanian territory of the Venta River catchment ? More detailed archival research from the Russian Empire period is needed, because according to one of the most prominent pioneers of Lithuanian hydrology, Prof. Steponas Kolupaila, there is a hint about the maximum water horizons of the Venta River, recorded there in 1875, when the bridge itself was built in 1871-1872. Currently, the bridge is completely dilapidated and no longer in use, but as a historical and cultural object it still attracts visitors. Therefore, it would be important to supplement the existing information with a reference or a stand about the fact that the first VMS of the Venta River was established here, not only in independent Lithuania, but possibly even earlier, when the railway bridge was built. Currently, 3 VMS operate in the Lithuanian part of the Venta catchment: Aunuvėnai (established on 1973-11-01 at the mouth of the tributary Aunuva), Papilė (established on 1933-02-01 and continuously operating for 94 years) and Leckava (established on 1939-11- 07). In order for the Lithuanian hydrological observation network to meet the requirements of the World Meteorological Organization and for the measurements to be more representative of the Venta catchment, six operational VMSs would be required, i.e. twice as many as are currently available.

• Details
• Contents