The work on the controlling of the Raba River related to the construction of Kraków-Chyżne highway has commenced. There are three sections of the total length of 1819 m where the designed road overlaps the river bed, therefore the river bed has to be moved and the road scarp reinforced. It is an immense intervention in the whole river valley. A question arises whether the river will be still living, suitable for recreation and promoting tourism, or only a wide, sunny shallow river bed will remain, unsuitable for people and fish. The author ponders whether the natural state can be restored and when, if so.