4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.2 RIVER MANAGEMENT MATRIX USER GUIDE
This section presents a guide for gathering data to use the RIMAM
3.2.1 Developing a database Objective
Gather key data to apply the RIMAM Directions
First, it is important to understand that in order to use the RIMAM, one must look at all main aspects of a river: environmental, physical-territorial, socioeconomic and cultural. A survey to gather such data must address water, air and sediment quality, soil use and occupation, infrastructure, sanitation, housing and public health conditions. Also, it is necessary to know the applicable legislation, management plans and projects that have already been done by others in the sector, avoiding duplication of effort and thus building a solid foundation onto which to perform the river assessment (GORSKI, 2010). This will provide subsidies for a robust application and possible identification of root causes and solutions of the river problems.
Recommendations
There are various sources of data, diagnostics and monitoring methodologies, which allow forming a comprehensive database of the river conditions (EPA, 2000; RRC, 2011).
In order to gather information and collect evidence there following approaches may be combined:
- Document analysis: consider the main public policies governing the regions in which the river is located (CUNHA et al., 2011a).
- Public databases: time series of water quality and quantity parameters usually exist online;
land use may be inferred from available satellite images.
- Literature review: scientific publications may contain data and analysis of water, air and sediment quality, soil use and occupation, infrastructure, sanitation, housing and public health conditions (RAMANATHAN, 2001; GORSKI, 2010; MILLER; SPOOLMAN, 2006).
- Interviews: aiming to know about the interests, preferences and expectations of the population regarding river rehabilitation programs, and characterize, in an overall form, the knowledge and attitude of participants about the river and its relations (DIAS, 2004).
- Observation: analysis of in situ evidences (RAMANATHAN, 2001; GORSKI, 2010;
MILLER; SPOOLMAN, 2006).
3.2.2 Dividing the river in segments
Application of the RIMAM will be more accurate if a river is divided into segments (TURPIE et al., 2008; GORSKI, 2010) according to land use.
Recommendations
After collecting and analyzing land use data and morphological characteristics of the river, select the similar stretches in a way that the segments have equivalent sensitivity levels of stressors.
3.2.3 Applying the RIMAM
The procedures recommended below were conceived to provide a simple way to use the RIMAM, and are presented in the same order as the topics appear in the matrix.
Recommendations
Apply the RIMAM at each segment.
Employ the recommended abbreviations:
- Y - when IC or RC were observed;
- N - when IC or RC were observed;
- ID - when IC or RC could not be identified due to lack of data;
- O – in situ observation;
- P - photographic/image evidence;
- L - evidence from literature;
- LG – evidence from legal document(s).
1st Table: River Pollution
1.1 IC Accidental spills Objective
Seek evidence of accidental spills in the river segment.
Instructions
a. Identify surrounding activities which present risk of accidental spills;
b.Verify historic records of accidental spills.
-If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.2
1.1.1 RC of Accidental spills Objective
Seek evidence of Equipment failure Instructions
Moving equipment
a. Verify traffic accident reports;
b. Speak to local community;
Fixed equipment
c. Check equipment inspection history;
d. Check running equipment for leaks.
1.1.2 RC of Accidental spills Objective
Seek evidence of Human failure Instructions
Moving equipment
a. Verify traffic accident reports;
Fixed equipment
b. Verify if recommended procedures were followed.
1.1.3 RC of Accidental spills Objective
Seek evidence of Ineffective management Instructions
a. Verify if proper training is provided to equipment operator(s);
b. Check if there is a record of equipment inspection and maintenance;
c. Verify if proper equipment use is enforced.
Recommendations
It is possible to infer accidental spills in rivers from the pollution caused by the accident. This can be ascertained by:
- Analysis of water quality;
- Analysis of air quality;
- Analysis of soil quality;
- Analysis of contaminant concentration in the aquatic biota.
Extent of the pollution and contaminant source may be inferred by checking:
- The kind of pollutant spilled;
- Pollutant concentration and flowing speed;
- Pollutant mass discharged into the river, river flow rate, width and length;
- Evaporation speeds: river average temperature and wind speed.
(DAVITASHVILI, 2009)
1.2 IC Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of riparian zone deforestation Instructions
a. Identify deforested areas according to criteria described in Table 9.
Table 9. Recommended width of the riparian zone (BRAZIL, 2012).
Size of water body Minimum width in riparian zone
< 10 meters width 30 meters each margin
10 - 50 meters width 50 meters each margin
50 - 200 meters width 100 meters each margin
200 - 600 meters width 200 meters each margin
> 600 500 meters each margin
Springs 50 meters radius
Lakes and reservoirs < 20 ha 50 meters margin
Lakes and reservoirs ≥ 20 ha 100 meters margin
Lakes and reservoirs in urban areas 30 meters margin
Wetlands 50 meters from the beginning of the flooded area
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.3
1.2.1 RC of Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of Housing problems Instructions
a.Characterize the kind of occupation in these areas.
1.2.2 RC of Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of Dam construction Instructions
a. Characterize the kind of activities developed in these areas.
1.2.3 RC of Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness Instructions
a. Characterize the kind of occupation in these areas;
b. Interview surrounding population about the reason of riparian zone occupation (GERGEL et al., 2002).
1.2.4 RC of Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of Legislative failure Instructions
a. Identify laws that address the river legal forest.
1.2.5 RC of Deforestation Objective
Seek evidence of Monitoring failure Instructions
a. Quantify deforested areas along the riparian zone;
b. Characterize the kind of occupation in these areas;
c. Analyze the laws that address the riparian zone protection;
d. Investigate if deforestation was punished by fines or other legal action.
1.3 IC Deposition of solid waste Objective
Seek evidence of the deposition of solid waste on the catchment area and directly into the river
Instructions
a. Observe if there is solid waste in the river, or that can be carried into the river by runoff.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.4
1.3.1 RC of Deposition of solid waste Objective
Seek evidence of Housing problems Instructions
a. Characterize the kind of occupation in these areas;
b. Observe if there is solid waste deposition around the housing area.
1.3.2 RC of Deposition of solid waste Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness Instructions
a. Interview surrounding residents about the source of garbage in the river segment.
1.3.3 RC of Deposition of solid waste Objective
Seek evidence of Management failure Instructions
a. Observe if there is solid waste deposition around the river segment;
b. Seek evidence of the existence of a river management plan to control the deposition of solid waste;
c. Seek evidence of an organization working with the solid waste issue.
Recommendations
It may be possible to infer the source of the solid waste from its characteristics. Once inferred, search for such sources in the region.
1.4 IC Exploitation activities Objective
Seek evidence of exploitation activities around the river segment Instructions:
a. Observe if there are exploitation activities around the river segment.
Recommendations
The exploitation activities can be housing, fishing, industrial, mining, catchment wells, dams, partial or total diversion of water resources, dredging works, drainage channels, and others.
Evidence may be gathered by local observation, satellites images, and monitoring data of water, air, and sediment quality.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.5
1.4.1 RC of Exploitation activities Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness Instructions
a. Characterize the type of exploitation around the river segment;
b. Interview surrounding residents, employers, employees, farmers, and law enforcement agents about the risks of the exploitation activities.
1.4.2 RC of Exploitation activities Objective
Seek evidence of Legislative failure Instructions
a. Identify laws that address the exploitation activities around the river segment;
b. Investigate if fines or other legal action were applied to punish illegal exploitation.
1.4.3 RC of Exploitation activities Objective
Seek evidence of Monitoring failure Instructions
a. Characterize the type of exploitation around the river segment;
b. Look for a river ecological economic zoning decree, and verify if the exploitation activities respect the prescribed river uses;
c. Seek evidence of monitoring activities, and their efficacy.
1.5 IC Floodplain destruction Objective
Seek evidence of floodplain destruction Instructions
a. Identify the floodplain areas around the river segment;
b. Verify if there is damage in the floodplain areas identified.
Recommendations
Floodplain areas: Located at an interface between water and soil, floodplains are complex ecosystems that may have standing or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt water, including seawater areas with less than six meters deep at low tide, such as mangroves, and coral reefs.
Can be supplied by groundwater, rivers or other moist areas and may be dry during part of the year. It is difficult to identify humid areas, due to the diversity of environments with those characteristics and the difficulty of establishing its boundaries, as they are extremely dynamic environments (MALTCHIK, 2004). Attempting to recognize floodplain areas it is recommended to:
Seek historical evidence of flooding in official documents;
Seek historical evidence of flooding interviewing residents;
Characterize potential flood zones through the analysis of:
- In situ observation, literature investigation, monitoring data, satellite images, city drainage plan, topography, hydrology, extension of repeated flooding.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.6
1.5.1 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Seek evidence of agricultural activities affecting floodplain areas Instructions
a. Identify the floodplain areas;
b. Verify if agriculture occupies these areas.
Recommendations
This data can be gathering by observation, and from satellite images.
1.5.2 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Investigate if Housing problems are affecting floodplain areas Instructions
a. Identify floodplain areas in the river segment;
b. Characterize the kind of occupation in these areas;
c. Verify if the housing problems are affecting floodplain areas.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, satellite imagery, monitoring data of water, and soil quality.
1.5.3 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Investigate if Lack of awareness is affecting floodplain areas Instructions
a. Investigate the presence of anthropic actions and their impact on floodplains;
b. Interview local population about the perceived importance of the floodplain areas.
1.5.4 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Seek evidence of Legislative failure Instructions
a. Identify laws addressing river floodplain area;
b. Investigate if there were fines addressing floodplain destruction.
1.5.5 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Seek evidence of Road construction on or near floodplain areas
Instructions
a. Identify floodplain areas in the river segment.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered in situ or from satellite imagery.
1.5.6 RC of Floodplain destruction Objective
Seek evidence of Management failure affecting floodplain areas Instructions
a. Verify if the uses of flood areas are:
I – compatible with their technical, ecological and economic role;
II – located in water catchment that is used for public supply:
-If yes: Is it at a distance of less than five kilometers upstream of the point where water is drawn? (SAO PAULO, 1992).
b. Look for a management plan to protect and regulate the use of floodplain areas;
c. Look for an organization working to protect floodplain areas.
1.6 IC Irregular sewage disposal Objective
Seek evidence of illegal or irregular sewage disposal in the river segment Instructions
a. Seek evidence of sewage disposal in the river segment.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.7
1.6.1 RC of Irregular sewage disposal Objective
Seek evidence of Failure in public administration Instructions
a. Identify all points of sewage disposal in the river segment;
b. Examine physical, chemical and biological parameters of water and sediment;
c. Compare with applicable legislation limits;
d. Investigate if fines were imposed for irregular sewage disposal.
1.6.2 RC of Irregular sewage disposal Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness about sewage disposal Instructions
a. Identify all points of sewage disposal in the river segment;
b. Interview local population about the problems involving sewage disposal.
1.7 IC Release of non-point source pollution Objective
Seek evidence of release of non-point source pollution Instructions
a. Identify the land use in the region;
b. Gather water, air, and sediment quality information.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.8
1.7.1 to 1.7.7 RC of Release of non-point source pollution Objective
a. Identify the source of the release of non-point source pollution.
1.7.1 RC Agriculture Instructions
a. Verify if there are crops around the river segment.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, from satellite imagery, and from soil use and occupation maps.
1.7.2 RC Urban Growth Instructions
a. Analyze historical data of urban expansion;
b. Verify data of population growth.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, from satellite imagery, from soil use and occupation maps. The population growth rate can be found in government website.
1.7.3 RC Exploitation activities - See 1.4
1.7.4 RC Industrial activities
a. Verify if there are industries in the region.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, from satellite imagery, and from soil use and occupation maps.
1.7.5 RC Automotive pollution
a. Verify if there are roads in the catchment area.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, from satellite imagery, and from soil use and occupation maps.
1.7.6 RC Deforestation - See 1.2
1.7.7 RC Monitoring failure
a. Verify if there is a governmental agency responsible for river monitoring;
b. Verify if the quality parameters fall within the legal limits.
1.8 IC Storm water Objective
Seek evidence of storm water system failure in the river segment Instructions
a. Identify storm water drainage structures;
b. Check the occurrence of spills from the storm water drainage system;
c. Interview local residents about the occurrence of storm water spills;
d. Analyze the quality of the storm water reaches the river.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 1.9
1.8.1 RC of Storm water system failure Objective
Seek evidence of Management failure in the storm water system Instructions
a. Analyze maintenance reports of rainwater drainage system
1.9 IC Water scarcity Objective
Seek evidence of water scarcity affecting the river segment Instructions
a. Analyze historical flow data - If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 2.1
1.9.1 RC of Water Scarcity Objective
Verify if Climate Change is affecting flows Instructions
a. Check if there was a decrease in river flow over at least the last ten years;
b. Check if there was an increase in water temperatures over at least the last ten years;
c. Check if there was an increase in the evaporation rates over at least the last ten years;
d. Check if there was an increase in the air humidity indices over at least the last ten years (EPA, 2014).
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by analyzing historical monitoring data available online and from scientific publications.
1.9.2 RC of Water Scarcity Objective
Seek evidence of Source degradation affecting the river water levels
Recommendations
River source degradation caused by anthropic action can occur by exploitation activities, deforestation and changes in land use.
1.9.3 RC of Water Scarcity Objective
Identify if Overexploitation is affecting the river water levels Instructions
a. Verify if the river is used as source of water supply (domestic, industrial, agricultural)
b. Compare with the river support capacity Recommendations
This data can be gathered in governmental website and water utility reports.
2nd Table: River Flood
2.1 IC Floodplain destruction See 1.5
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 2.2
2.2 IC Increased flow peaks Objective
Seek evidence of increased flow peaks.
Instructions
a. Compare the flow peaks along the years.
Recommendations
Observe the flow peaks marks in the riparian forest and verify this data in environmental governmental and water utility reports.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 2.3
2.2.1 RC of Increased flow peaks Objective
Seek evidence of Change in soil permeability
Instructions
a. Look for deforested areas along the river segment;
b. Seek evidence of constructions in these areas;
c. Seek evidence of agricultural activities in the area;
d. Seek evidence of road construction in the area.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, satellite imagery, and soil use and occupation maps.
2.2.2 RC of Increased flow peaks Objective
Identify if Climate Change is affecting the river flow Instructions
a. Check if there was an increase in precipitation levels over the last ten years;
b. Check if there was an increase in the river flow over the last ten years;
c. Check if there was an increase in water temperatures over the last ten years;
d. Check if there was an increase in the evaporation rates over the last ten years;
e. Check if there was an increase in the air humidity indices over the last ten years (EPA, 2014).
Recommendations
Verify this data in historic records and scientific literature.
2.2.3 RC of Increased flow peaks Objective
Seek evidence of River training Instructions
a. Check if there was an increase in the river flow after training work by comparing flow peaks.
Recommendations
Verify this data in historic records, and scientific literature.
2.2.4 RC of Increased flow peaks Objective
Analyze the Urban drainage system Instructions
a. Check if there was an increase in the river flow after the drainage work by comparing flow peaks.
Recommendations
Verify this data in historic records, and scientific literature.
2.3 IC Siltation of river bed Objective
Seek evidence of Siltation of riverbed Instructions
a. Verify if there is solid waste deposited in the river bottom;
b. Verify if there are islands of sediment accumulation;
c. Verify if the riparian zone is damaged.
Recommendations
Gathering this data is possible by analyzing and linking information from: in situ observation, satellite imagery, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) analysis, analysis of bottom sediment.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 3.1
2.3.1 to 2.3.6 RC of Siltation of river bed Objective
Seek evidence of:
2.3.1 RC Construction Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, satellite imagery and soil use and occupation map.
2.3.2 RC Degradation of riparian zone See 4.2
2.3.3 RC Deposition solid waste See 1.3
2.3.4 RC Exploitation activities See 1.4
2.3.5 RC Storm water drainage See 1.8
2.3.6 RC Erosion Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, satellite imagery, and application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE).
3rd Table: Aquatic biodiversity loss
3.1 IC Fishing (Illegal or not) Objective
Seek evidences of Fishing Instructions
a. Verify if there is a law addressing fishing in the river segment;
b.Interview population about fishing in the river segment.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 3.2
3.1.1 RC of Fishing (Illegal or not) Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness Instructions
a. Interview surrounding population about fishing in the river segment.
3.1.2 RC of Fishing (Illegal or not) Objective
Seek evidence of Management Failure Instructions
a. Verify if there is a management plan regulating fishing practices in the river segment;
b. Verify if there is information guiding the allowed practices in the river segment.
Recommendations
This data can be gathered by in situ observation, and government documents and booklets for anglers.
3.1.3 RC of Fishing (Illegal or not) Objective
Seek evidence of Monitoring failure Instructions
a. Verify if there is fishing in the area;
b. Interview population about fishing practices in the region.
3.2 IC Introduction of exotic species Objective
Seek evidence of Exotic species in the river Instructions
a. Interview population and fishermen about the species found in the river;
b. Seek historical records of native species and compare with the current river population.
Recommendations
This data may be found in scientific publications or government reports.
- If (Y) continue, if (N) go to 3.3
3.2.1 RC of Introduction of exotic species Objective
Seek evidence of failure in the Management plan a.Verify if there is a management plan
b.Verify if the management plan regulates the exotic species presence
3.2.2 RC of Introduction of exotic species Objective
Seek evidence of Failure in inspection Instructions
a. Verify if there is an inspection plan Recommendations
It is possible to find environmental government documents.
3.2.3 RC of Introduction of exotic species Objective
Seek evidence of Lack of awareness Instructions
a. Interview surrounding population and local fishers about exotic species and the risk of introducing them into the river.
3.3 IC Loss of aquatic habitat
3.3 IC Loss of aquatic habitat