Impacto das ocupações residenciais na qualidade dos cursos d’água da sub- bacia do rio grande: Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca – RJ

Abstract

This paper deals with anthropogenic action in the Rio Grande watershed, located in the Pedra Branca State Park, in the western part of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The Rio Grande watershed, the largest and most important of the entire protected area, with the Rio Grande as the main river in the entire massif of the same name, has been damaged by anthropogenic action, and its original configuration has been altered by rapid urbanization. This basin was chosen as the study area because, in addition to being the park's main water resource, its drainage network supplies water to homes near the Conservation Unit, playing an important role for certain adjacent neighborhoods. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the state and river environment of water bodies in two different segments located within the conservation unit close to the park management and compare them. Based on the assessment parameters that make up the Rapid Assessment of Rivers (PAR), a qualitative environmental analysis was carried out, on site, of the streams of the Rio Grande and along its main channel, within the boundaries of the protected area, making it possible to analyze the environmental quality of the bodies of water. This study evaluated two segments located in the Rio Grande sub-basin at practically the same elevation, one of which is under the direct supervision of the park and the other in the community adjacent to the headquarters of the conservation unit. These segments are located close to park inspection, but with different management perspectives.This evaluation showed different results, such as Area 2, which showed significant environmental impacts along the stretches analyzed, unlike Area 1, where its streams have excellent environmental conditions with little or no anthropogenic interference.