GUIDELINES FOR ACTION PLANS

In order to develop river recovery programs, it is essential to employ diagnostic and planning tools, which contribute to the characterization of rivers stressors. In order to achieve meaningful results, it is necessary to gather comprehensive data. EPA (2014) and RRC (2011) are important references, with a wide range of analysis methods for the different river aspects.

The RIMAM developed in the present work was employed to synthetize the data previously obtained in several projects developed involving the Passaúna river. The tool contributed to the organization of this data and to identify the problems that affect the river, as well as their immediate and root causes.

The problems identified led to the suggestion, based on the RIMAM, of twenty one activities for the restoration of the segment: 1- Regulate land use, 2- Environmental education programs, 3- Improve monitoring and raise fines, 4- Improve management, 5- Soil conservation program, 6- Periodic cleanup program, 7- Create alternative housing options, 8- Improve the sewer system, 9- Improve agricultural practices, 10- Incentive use of non-polluting vehicles, 11- Improve road systems, 12- Riparian zone recovery, 13- Filter/treat storm water, 14- Storm water detention, 15- Detention ponds for public drainage, 16- Discipline construction practices, 17- Install sediment traps, 18- Reforestation, 19- Spawning habitat improvement, 20- Regulate exotic forest management, and 21- Floodplain management.

These activities were combined into four major groups are recommended for the suggestion of a river recovery program: regulate land use; develop environmental education programs; improve monitoring; and improve management.

4.4.1 Regulate land use

Contribute with the solution of land use and occupation problems; also contribute to the process of floodplain management, aquatic habitat conservation, soil conservation, riparian recovery, reforestation and demarcation of areas for housing, and handling exotic species. The regularization of land also impacts to: reduce deforestation, eliminate solid waste deposition, improve management of exploitation activities, reduce non-point source pollution, improve storm water system, regulate river flow, and control the siltation of river bed.

Water and land are highly connected; pollution from land use flows directly into water bodies. For this reason, it is important that both be considered in the diagnostic process (EPA, 2014). Zhao et al. (2015) relate that land use and hydrological variables can explain more than 50% of water quality variation and affirm that to recognize this influence it is fundamental to focus efforts on land research, aiming to sustain the functionality and integrity of ecosystems (WILLIANS, et al., 1995; EPA, 2014).

State Decree 458/91 (PARANÁ, 1991) creates the Passaúna EPA defining its boundaries, and State Decree 5063/01 (PARANÁ, 2001) defines the Ecological- Economic Zoning (EEZ) of the EPA. Together, they form the legal instrument to promote proper land use, aiming to improve the soil occupation of this area. EEZ is an approach that can reduce conflict by portioning the landscape into various land use units that are managed for different levels of human activity. However, in this case, as in many other instances of Brazilian legislation, there is a gap between the expectations and real effects, as the instrument is not properly applied.

Problems in the Passaúna EEZ can be observed in this segment, such as soil erosion, siltation of riverbed, and water quality. The reasons pointed at by the RIMAM and other research reveal large digging areas with total removal of organic matter, agriculture upstream without adoption of sustainable practices; large deforested areas, changes in the river bed caused by mining exploitation that alter the river flow, unpaved roads along the river, and storm water systems (SAUNITI et al., 2004).

Attempting to improve soil occupation regulations, Zhang et al. (2013) used a participatory process involving multiple stakeholders and technical experts to manage land use in order to achieve nature conservation, tourism and recreation, and community development. To meet these goals, criteria and impact factors were identified, weighted, and a GIS (Geographic Information System) was used to generate gradient effects of each criterion. Three suitability maps were generated and overlaid with five management zones (strict protected zone, ecosystem conservation zone, eco-tourism zone (buffer zone), park service zone, and traditional land use zone) corresponding to different protection and management strategies, thus avoiding management misconceptions.

As a way to contribute with the Passaúna EPA EEZ, it is suggested the development of plans to control land use, through the implementation of existing EPA and by the application of conservationist practices to control deforestation and reforest the riparian zone, improve field protection, create parks which would limit property speculation. It is also recommended to take legal measures based on existing legislation.

4.4.2 Environmental education programs

The development of environmental education programs can help control exotic species invasion, improve agricultural practices, and encourage the use of non-polluting vehicles and more appropriate building practices. Environmental education activities also contribute to reduce deforestation, eliminate solid waste deposition, improve exploitation activities management, recover floodplain areas, control the siltation of river bed, regulate fishing and reduce non-point source pollution. Some of the elements of the environment are known and understood, while others are not or even undervalued. In general, people do not realize that nature is the result of an integrated operation and that the intervention on any of its elements affects the whole.

It is necessary to develop and enhance the awareness of people, individually and collectively, in relation to their responsibility through a conception that considers the principle of sustainability, in which values and attitudes can be reviewed and reconstructed (MUGGLER et al., 2006). To Justen (2006), EA shows itself as an essential tool to raise awareness, inform and involve people and governments in management plans and environmental practices that minimize degradation and promote ecosystem restoration. It is considered that the results fit into the beginning of a new phase of awareness of the availability and use of water resources, the need for immediate action aiming to balance the condition of the reservoir and protect the wealth and source of water resources (PALMER et al., 2003).

Environmental education programs elaborated to this particular segment should guide the population about the handling and disposal of solid waste, animal waste, pesticides and agricultural waste. They must guide the adoption of new conservation technologies, fertilization practices and soil management, eliminating slash and burn and aiming to improve productivity, soil quality and protection against erosion (SAUNITI et al., 2004).

4.4.3 Improve monitoring practices

The action plans in this item contribute to the control of exotic species invasion, periodic cleaning programs, aquatic habitat conservation, fishing control, storm water and sewage systems improvement. Monitoring improvement can reduce deforestation, eliminate solid waste deposition, balance exploitation activities management, reduce non-point source pollution, control the siltation of river bed and regulate biodiversity loss.

Monitoring projects are not seen as high priority activities because of financial constraints and a lack of guidance to help develop appropriate monitoring levels and methods (RRC, 2011). As a result, river monitoring, even when completed, is rarely adequate to measure river quality and stressor levels properly. Monitoring is a fundamental part of a river restoration project that can increase understanding and also identify future management needs. Improving monitoring allows practitioners, stakeholders and other parties interested in river restoration to assess the optimum and most cost-effective methods to use for their particular requirements.

In the case of the Passaúna river, failure was observed in all monitoring aspects that were evaluated. Water quality monitoring is regularly carried out by environmental and sanitation agencies (XAVIER, 2005), however, the quality parameters analyzed are geared towards human consumption, so the problems that are causing the degradation of the resource as a whole are usually overlooked.

Scientific research has an important role in characterizing the stressors of the river as a whole and tends to supplement governmental programs. However, meager funding for research projects also prevents the development and implementation of more comprehensive monitoring programs.

4.4.4 Improve management practices

Improving management in this case involves planning all actions discussed above. A proper management plan would consider the land use associated with water policies attempting to avoid stressor impact, would also prioritize monitoring actions and environmental education programs as ways to attain and then maintain the balance. The author urges that environmental education should be used as a tool for water resource management dealing with intricate and complex problems in the interaction between nature, technology, and human beings.

5 CONCLUSION

Water availability is one of the greatest global sustainability challenges. Considering the historical inadequacy of water management, science is presented as a fundamental way to understand phenomena, making it possible to redesign mechanisms of conduct, develop studies and propose solutions through national policies. In this context, as main providers of water quality, rivers are receiving increased attention in the pursuit of solutions to water resources rehabilitation.

The River Management Matrix (RIMAM) develop herein was shown to be an effective instrument. A diagnostic tool to identify the problems affecting rivers and to guide the development of management plans. The application of this tool in a segment of the Passaúna river lead to results similar to other research. It was possible to see that some of the observed problems had been previously mentioned in analyses conducted in 1993 and 2004 for the same segment, showing that many of the current problems have been known for over twenty years and were not solved, notwithstanding the fact that this is one of the main sources of public water supply of the largest city in the state of Paraná. This assertion makes clear the river neglect situation and the lack of collaboration between government and stakeholders. The legislation designed to promote the balance in land use is controversial and allows incompatible activities in the area, with impacts whose causes are being ignored by the public river manager.

In this way, the method proposed in this study for identifying and qualifying impacts is one step ahead because it allows the evaluation of the root causes of degradation in the river and its ecosystems.

The tool enables a clear identification of variables and cause and effect relations, thus allowing the recommendation of appropriate solutions. The RIMAM may be a useful tool for users developing their own application to a river recovery. While the general architecture of the RIMAM was conceived to be simple, the method is able to consider the seven main river problems: pollution, flooding, aquatic biodiversity loss, riparian biodiversity loss, and impairment of hydropower generation and loss of navigability.

Decision making on river recovery requires informed discussion. Thus, the information gathered in the application of the RIMAM permits careful consideration of problems and solutions, allowing the complete identification of river impacts. This increases the chance of recovery programs success.

An online version of the RIMAM connected to other tools using a user friendly interface should help to make this complex subject more accessible to all practitioners and contribute to the search for solutions to river degradation problems.