USE OF RIVER RAPID ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL (RAP) AND FLORA RAPID ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL (REA) FOR DIAGNOSING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE JOÃO CESÁRIO STREAM AND ITS PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS - CITY OF ANÁPOLIS (GO)

Abstract

Urban watercourses are under great pressure due to the use of their banks, and permanent preservation areas (PPA) are occupied by several human activities, disrespecting existing environmental legislation. In addition to irregular occupation, the urban drainage system is another element that affects river channels, water quality, and availability, and which causes more flood events. Based on this scenario, a diagnosis of environmental conditions was carried out in the João Cesário Stream watershed - Anápolis (state of Goiás) - with applications of River Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP) and Flora Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA), for the preparation of the recovery plan proposal for degraded PPAs. In the watershed channels, 45 points were carried out with the application of the RAP, containing 13 analysis factors. The factors were evaluated by a technical team that assigned scores from 1 to 4 - 1 indicates the worst and 4 the best local environmental condition. At 17 other points, the REA for vegetation was applied. An average level of environmental quality of the watershed was recorded; however, there are critical locations in the PPA with low and very low levels of environmental quality related to erosion in the channel and its banks, instability of the channel slopes, siltation, and solid waste.