The land use character and rate of anthropogenic pressure are the key factors that significantly affect the condition of river system within the landscape. Between the morphometric parameters of the river channel and degradation of natural environmental values ??of the river landscape a direct relationship can be observed. The present paper discusses the issue of historical changes of river network and runoff processes in the landscape together with their causes. As the model area was used the Košátecký potok Stream catchment, such as the small stream in a fertile and lowland area of the Elbe region (the Czech Republic). Selected catchment is largely characterized by a high degree of hydric conditions degradation – mainly due to the enormous extent of arable land. Features of water runoff from the catchment are further affected by numerous modifications of the river channel and its geometry.