Abstract
This study aims to estimate the effect of different land uses around watercourses on runoff following extreme precipitation events and, consequently, on the mitigation of these effects. The study area is a rural watershed in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. After characterizing the area, we estimated the surface runoff of the January 2009 precipitation event, which caused two casualties: losses in soil and productive area, as well as over US$ 300,000.00 in damages to the water supply system. Subsequently, simulations were performed considering different land uses and riparian areas under different precipitation levels. The results indicate that conserving riparian forests in the surroundings of watercourses decreases direct surface runoff, whereas intense soil use in these areas favors runoff increase.
Highlights
Environmental changes caused by intensive soil use and devastation of native areas, in addition to the rising exploration of water resources, have negatively affected the environment
This study aims to estimate the effect of different land uses around watercourses on runoff following extreme precipitation events and, on the mitigation of these effects
The results indicate that conserving riparian forests in the surroundings of watercourses decreases direct surface runoff, whereas intense soil use in these areas favors runoff increase
Summary
Environmental changes caused by intensive soil use and devastation of native areas, in addition to the rising exploration of water resources, have negatively affected the environment. These changes affect watercourse runoff and cause greater environmental impact following extreme precipitation events. Land use in Brazil is directly related to the demands of population, i.e. for the purpose of food production, expansion of urban areas, roads, among others. Over time, this use changes landscape and degrades environmental services. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2015), between 1990 and 2015, Brazil lost 2,216,000 ha of forest per year
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