ENVIRONMENTAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE LOWER-MIDDLE BASIN OF THE SANTA BÁRBARA STREAM (GUALEGUAYCHÚ, ENTRE RÍOS)

Ivan Juárez, Melina Celeste Crettaz Minaglia, Diamela Gianello, María Soledad Rodriguez, Florencia San Millan, Eduardo Chaves & Ricardo Ariel Juárez

Abstract

The river systems have been subjected to strong anthropogenic pressure due to unplanned intervention leading to the loss of water sources. In particular, the Pampas ecoregion is one of the most impacted areas in Argentina due to the intense activities of the primary sector. The objective of this work was to diagnose the state of a Pampean stream and propose environmental management measures using biological assemblages as a tool. The study area is located Southeast of Entre Ríos, in the lower-middle basin of the Santa Bárbara Stream. Sampling was carried out between 2012-2013 (n=12) at three stations and physical-chemical parameters were measured, samples of benthic macroinvertebrate were collected, and riverbank quality was determined. In addition, the QGIS Software was used to characterize the basin morphometrically. Water quality showed signs of stationary pollution, possibly due to watershed activities. The banks were identified as strategic areas for the conservation of diversity, surface water quality and soil. The application of different tools for the analysis of environmental quality allowed to obtain a better approximation regarding the state of the stream and to project the different scenarios of the behavior of the micro basin. This work was a contribution of relevance to the knowledge of the tributaries of the River Gualeguaychú.