Caracterização morfométrica e delimitação de áreas com tendência à inundação da bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão Bom Jardim, Uberlândia-MG: subsídios para o planejamento ambiental e urbano

Abstract

Knowing the physical characteristics of a river basin is of paramount importance for decision making related to urban and environmental planning. It is necessary to understand that the watersheds are open systems, that is, that they interrelate with the environment inside and outside its limits, thus, any change made in the environment will impact the basin. In Uberlândia-MG, where the study area is located, there is a serious problem when it comes to urbanized basins, as they suffer from a process of environmental degradation and, mainly, flooding due to the waterproofing of areas of recharge and channeling of streams. Such problems stem from accelerated urban growth without adequate planning and preservation of environmentally strategic areas. It was in this sense, and as a way to avoid future problems related to flooding, as already happens in several basins in the city, that the area of study for this research was defined: the water catchment area of the Bom Jardim stream, which still has rural characteristics when it comes to the use and occupation of land, but with urbanization, it is perceived that soon this basin will be under urban influence, as it already occurs at its mouth. Thus, the objective of this research is to delimit the Areas with Tendency to Flood - ATIs of the basin and to evaluate the predisposition of the morphometric factors to the occurrence of flood. The results showed that the basin under study does not have a significant susceptibility to flooding, but it is very flat, with a low topographic gradient, which influences a slow surface runoff , causing risks of periodic flooding. On the other hand, land use and occupation can also be an aggravating factor for flooding in the Bom Jardim river basin, however, it is necessary to preserve the native vegetation ATIs, preventing the occupation of these areas, in order to ensure a safe and environmentally balanced situation.