Abstract: Channel patterns and river connectivity are widely recognized to be an integral descriptive parameter for the geomorphic behaviour and ecohydrological properties of rivers. They are sensitively affected by climate and land-use changes and, in turn, can indicate the habitat suitability for the aquatic fauna, i.a. expressed by the diversity of channel width, flow velocity and depositional regimes. Both, habitat potential and the overall river connectivity are additionally influenced by barriers such as weirs and dams, at least since Medieval times. Here we present the results of a multi-temporal study investigating river morphology, river connectivity and floodplain land use in the Mulde River system. The study is motivated by the local extinction of the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) within the last two centuries and low-success reintroduction endeavours. In order to test for a relation to water body structures, we make use of old maps (‘Sächsische Meilenblätter’, 1780-1821; ‘Von Deckersche Quadratmeilenblätter’, 1816-1821) to pinpoint (i) historical barriers and (ii) historical floodplain land use as a pollution proxy that may have affected migratory fish populations. Furthermore, we (iii) evaluate anthropogenic changes in channel patterns assuming that these also influence salmon habitat suitability. Preliminary results point to a negative relation between an increasing number of cumulative barriers, increased floodplain land use and the occurrence of salmon populations during the past. Sinuous and meandering channel patterns correspond with higher probabilities of salmon occurrence. Keywords/Schlagwörter: Lachs; Fluviale Anthroposphäre; Umweltgeschichte; Landesgeschichte; Archäologie; Geografie; Auenlandschaften; Altkarten; Fluviale Morphologie; salmon; fluvial anthroposphere; environmental history; regional history; archaeology; geography; floodplain landscapes; Old Maps; fluvial morphology; salmo salar