Environmental Analysis and Planning of the Mariana Microbasin, Alta Floresta-MT
Environmental Planning; Geotechnologies; Amazon
This dissertation addresses the strategic relevance of micro-watersheds as fundamental units for territorial planning and integrated environmental management, with an emphasis on water resource conservation, mitigation of hydro-sedimentological impacts, and the promotion of sustainability in areas under consolidated anthropogenic use. The study was conducted in the Mariana I and II Micro-watershed, located in the municipality of Alta Floresta, in the northern region of the state of Mato Grosso, whose socio-environmental importance is associated with urban water supply and the maintenance of regional hydrological balance. In this sense, the proposed objective was to carry out an integrated and comparative analysis of the Mariana I and Mariana II microbasins, aiming to support environmental planning and the proposal of conservation actions focused on the conservation of water supply sources in the municipality of Alta Floresta–MT. The research is based on an interdisciplinary theoretical-methodological framework, integrating geotechnologies, morphometric analysis, and land use and land cover assessment, articulated with Brazilian environmental legislation, with emphasis on the Forest Code and the National Water Resources Policy, as well as State and Municipal legislation. The methodology includes the physical-environmental characterization of the microbasins, including analysis of soils, relief, drainage network, and land use dynamics, as well as the application of the Environmental Fragility method and the Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), aiming to identify areas of greater vulnerability and erosive potential. Preliminary analyses indicate a scenario of consolidated anthropogenic use, with a predominance of agricultural activities and fragmentation of native vegetation, especially in areas of gently undulating relief, favored by agricultural mechanization. A trend of altered natural hydrological processes is observed, with reduced infiltration, intensified surface runoff, and an increased risk of sediment production. The Mariana I Microbasin, the main source of urban water supply, presents greater criticality due to the proximity between productive areas and the drainage network, while Mariana II maintains relatively more preserved sectors, although equally susceptible to agricultural expansion. Considering the high regional rainfall regime, these conditions can intensify erosive processes when associated with low vegetation cover and the absence of conservation practices. As an applied product, we propose structured environmental zoning based on the degree of fragility and potential for soil loss, linking each zone to specific interventions, such as the recovery of Permanent Preservation Areas, protection of springs, implementation of small dams, terracing, contour lines, and the adoption of sustainable production systems. The definition of monitoring indicators, including estimated soil loss rates, vegetation cover in Permanent Preservation Areas, and water quality, aims to support environmental management and strengthen territorial governance, contributing to municipal water security and regional sustainable development.