Apart from surface water erosion, gully erosion sometimes occurs causing strong degradation of soils. The regions with varied surface features are most exposed to gully erosion. It affects the Eastern and Central Beskidy Mountains, Wyzyna Lubelska together with Roztocze, as well as the eastern and central part of the Pogorze Srodkowobeskidzkie, Niecka Nidzianska, eastern part of the Wyzyna Kielecko-Sandomierska and the southern part of Wyzyna Slaska. The total length of gullies in Poland is 34,500 kilometres, while the total acreage is 86,000 hectares. A large part of the gullies are old, usually reforested or overgrown with sod.
Some gullies are active and systematically degrade the adjoining terrain.
The existence of loess and loessic soils, dust-clay soils, varied land surface features and reinforced dirt roads running along the fall of the land are factors aiding the growth of the existing gullies and the creation of new ones. Significant changes in the natural environment, including changes of the soil cover are a result of water system disturbance by people. Many soils have undergone deep transformations under the influence of reclamation. The smallest, and in majority favourable changes resulting from reclamation happened in the ploughland. Correctly performed reclamation removes the defections in these soils while only slightly disturbing the water system.