ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FRAGILITY IN THE AREA OF DIRECT INFLUENCE OF THE ESPORA HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT IN CORRENTE RIVER, GOIÁS, BRAZIL

Abstract

In recent decades, the construction of reservoirs (Small Hydroelectric Centrals and Hydroelectric Power Plants) in hydrographic basins has caused several changes in the landscape, making it necessary to evaluate the synergistic and cumulative effects resulting from the environmental impacts caused by the set of hydroelectric projects. Changes in natural components can result in a loss of system functionality and disruption of its state of balance, which can be assessed through environmental fragility. In this sense, the present work aimed to identify and evaluate the areas with the highest and lowest degree of Potential Fragility and Emerging Fragility, in a delimitation of the influence area of the Espora Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) located on the border of the municipalities of Serranópolis and Aporé/GO, Brazil . The methodological procedure adopted is that of environmental fragility through the relationship between soil factors, declivity, geology/geomorphology, precipitation and land use. As a result, the predominance of Laterite, sandy and medium texture soils was detected in lands that went from flat to wavy, occupied by extensive pastures and monoculture. The study area was classified for potential fragility in 3.1% - very low, 46.8% - low, 49.5% - average and 0.6 as high potential fragility based on the relationship of soil, slope and climate factors. However, the emerging fragility showed that the use of land had a significant impact on the rates, mainly in agricultural areas, increasing the fragility, characterized in 19.9 - low, 42.4% - average, 17.6 - high fragility. It was noted also that very low emergent fragility increased due to the presence of vegetation cover highlighted in the land use map.