Visit to Kacze Doły: Small Retention to Combat Drought
During a visit to Mogilno County, Marshal Piotr Całbecki visited Kacze Doły (Duck Pits) in the Szczepanowo Forest District. The location is recognized as a best-practice model in our region for initiatives aimed at retaining water in the natural environment. Similar projects can be implemented thanks to the support of the regional self-government. A call for applications for small-scale water retention funding is currently underway. The meeting was also attended by Elżbieta Piniewska, President of the Regional Parliament, Wojciech Szczęsny, Regional Parliament Councillor, and local government officials.
Kacze Doły is an area covering approximately 14 hectares which, through cooperation between foresters and a local limestone mine, has restored its historical wetland character. Just a few decades ago, this area consisted of natural marshlands. In autumn 2023, the basins were refilled with water diverted from the nearby mine. To achieve this, a three-kilometer pipeline, an open channel, and storage ponds holding 215 m³ of water were constructed. As a result, characteristic wetland flora and fauna have begun to regenerate, and Kacze Doły has also become a site for environmental education and recreation, traversed by a 30-kilometer walking and cycling trail.
“Environmental changes are phenomena we usually observe over decades. Today, however, scientists point out that processes that once occurred naturally over very long periods are now happening much faster under human influence. That is why today we must act on two fronts – both preventing further changes and dealing with the consequences of those we are already experiencing,” stressed Marshal Piotr Całbecki. “I am convinced that our project will generate strong interest and that together we will be able to better manage and improve our water resources, because every drop of water retained in our region is of vital importance.”
Water retention basins can be created across the entire region with financial support. The application window for funding small retention projects – announced by our Marshal’s Office under the European Funds for Kujawy and Pomorze 2021-2027 program – is open until 15 December. A total of PLN 60 million has been allocated for this purpose, with grants covering up to 100 percent of eligible costs. The support covers, among other things, the construction and modernization of water-impounding structures, the creation of retention reservoirs, and the restoration of wetlands. Eligible applicants include local governments, individuals, and non-profit organizations. This presents a key opportunity to implement investments that help retain water, mitigate the effects of drought, and protect nature.
A subsequent call for applications, also dedicated to small-scale retention, will be announced at the end of the first quarter of 2027, under which PLN 30 million will be distributed. Within this pool, entities will be able to apply through a competitive process for investments contributing to raising groundwater and surface water levels.
We invite you to read our interview with Jacek Piskorski, forester of the Szczepanowo Forest District in Mogilno County and the visionary behind irrigating forest areas with water from the limestone mine:
Key Figures at a Glance:
- Kacze Doły: 14-hectare area, 215 m³ water capacity, surrounded by a 30 km walking and cycling trail.
- PLN 60 million budget for the retention and climate adaptation call in the region; application deadline is 15 December 2026; covers up to 100% of eligible costs; maximum grant of EUR 200,000 per grantee.
- PLN 30 million budget for the next retention reservoir call; application deadline end of Q1 2027; covers up to 95% of eligible costs.
Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office
27 October 2026
