ANALYSIS OF WATER SOURCE AREAS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF RONDA ALTA, RS

Abstract

Water sources (springs) are components of the hydrological system that enable the exfiltration of groundwater to the surface. As complex systems, they require careful management to ensure their preservation and sustainable use. This study aims to locate, classify, and measure the land use classes within Permanent Preservation Areas surrounding perennial springs in the municipality of Ronda Alta, Rio Grande do Sul. To achieve this, geotechnological tools were used to identify spring locations, complemented by drone flights for on-site assessment, and the selection of Permanent Preservation Areas based on the land use map for the year 2022. A total of 1,628 springs were identified, of which only 557 had some kind of vegetation within the preservation area. Among these, 27 springs had preservation above 75%, representing 1.66% of the total, and only 12 springs (0.74%) were fully preserved. The expansion of human activities has led to the removal of springs from the landscape through drainage processes or even canalization. This study highlights the ecological importance of springs for fauna, flora, water supply, and formation of streams, and underscores the needs for actions to raise awareness and promote their preservation efforts.