Morphometric analyzes of the river basin id Ribeirão da Laje, in the Southwest of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Due to negative environmental impacts caused by intensive soil use, urban and industrial expansion and to the importance of water resources to the maintenance of several life forms on Earth, data were necessary for the planning and environmental management of watersheds. It was and objective to analyze the morphometry of Ribeirão da Laje river basin, one of the main water supply sources for the public supply of the urban population of Rio Verde, Southwest of Goiás, supported by geotechnologies and established authors’ work. The studied area presents morphometric variables, geology, soils and rainfall predominantly favorable to its conservation and to water recharge. However, the elongated way and possible occurrences of heavy rains in the river head submit the watershed to eventual torrents, being able to cause environmental and economic damages; the altimetric amplitude maximum, bigger declivities, water density, drainage density, Red Nitosol, Litolic Neosol and the predominance of intensive agriculture are favorable to soil loss. This study will subsidize the planning and environmental management of this watershed, besides serving as a basis to other local woks and from other regions, contributing to the water availability in proper amount and quality to multiple uses.

Keywords

• bacia hidrográfica, gestão ambiental, variáveis morfométricas