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1
RAIN UPSTREAM, FLOODS DOWNSTREAM:
THE CASE OF THE URUGUAI RIVER IN URUGUAIANA-RS
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an
Cassiane J ayj de Melo
2025
2
Summa y
Abs ac ......................................................................................................... 3
Chap e 1 - U uguay Ri e on Ale : Floods in U uguaiana, RS, B azil ...... 4
Chap e 2 - In luence o Ups eam Rain all on Flooding in U uguaiana
..................................................................................................................... 34
Chap e 3 - Case S udies: Floods and Con ibu ions ................................ 65
Chap e 4 - The Role o Technology in Flood Moni o ing and
P e en ion ................................................................................................... 79
Chap e 5 - P ac ical Ac ions o he Communi y and Indi iduals ........... 125
Chap e 6 - The Quali y o Hyd ome eo ological Da a and i s
Impo ance ................................................................................................ 150
Chap e 7 - The Legacy o Floods: Lea ning and T ans o ma ion o
he Fu u e .................................................................................................. 187
Bibliog aphical Re e ences ....................................................................... 203
3
Abs ac
This book p esen s an analysis o he loods o he U uguay Ri e
in U uguaiana, Rio G ande do Sul, in es iga ing he dynamics o
he loods and he co ela ion be ween ain all in he ci ies
ups eam o he U uguay Ri e and i e le els in he ci y o
U uguaiana i sel . The s udy in eg a es hyd ome eo ological da a
om he Na ional Wa e and Basic Sani a ion Agency (ANA) o
p o ide e idence o he ac o s ha igge and in luence he
magni ude o loods. I will add ess aspec s such as he
socioeconomic and en i onmen al impo ance o he U uguay
Ri e , he his o y o looding in U uguaiana, he me hodology o
da a collec ion and analysis, he in luence o ain all in
municipali ies such as I aqui, São Bo ja and Ga uchos, he
implica ions o isk planning and managemen , he
socioeconomic impac s o looding, and u u e ends ela ed o
clima e change. The objec i e is o p o ide echnical and
s a egic in o ma ion o public manage s, u al p oduce s, ci il
de ence and local communi ies, wi h a iew o imp o ing ea ly
wa ning sys ems, e i o ial managemen and esilience in he
ace o he challenges posed by looding o he U uguay Ri e .
4
Chap e 1 - U uguay Ri e on Ale : Floods in
U uguaiana, RS, B azil
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu 1
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an1
Jocema An onio Toso1,2
Diogo Rica do Ma ins Bales a3
Cassiane J ayj de Melo4
1 S uden in he Aquacul u e Enginee ing Cou se, UNIPAMPA; 2 Aquacul u e Technologis ,
UNIPAMPA; 3 Adminis a o , Law S uden , Pos g adua e in En i onmen al Law and MSc
in In e na ional Business, Mus Uni e si y; (4) Ag icul u al Enginee , MSc Geog aphy:
Remo e Sensing; PhD Soil Science, UFSM.
1. In oduc ion
The U uguay Ri e , one o he main wa e cou ses in Sou h
Ame ica, is o g ea en i onmen al, social and economic
impo ance o sou he n B azil, especially as i o ms he bo de
be ween B azil and A gen ina (IBGE, 2021). As i lows h ough
ci ies such as U uguaiana, I aqui, São Bo ja and Ga uchos, he
i e is associa ed wi h ex eme hyd ological e en s, such as
loods ha impac i e side communi ies (ANA, 2022).
U uguaiana is pa icula ly ulne able o hese loods, which a e
in luenced by ain all in ups eam ci ies (Tucci, 2007).
This book in es iga es he ela ionship be ween accumula ed
p ecipi a ion in ups eam municipali ies and he ise in i e le els
in U uguaiana, based on hyd ome eo ological da a om ANA,
collec ed o e wel e mon hs. The objec i e is o gene a e
accessible echnical knowledge abou he beha iou o he i e
in he ace o ex eme wea he e en s (IPCC, 2023), con ibu ing
o isk managemen , e i o ial planning and he o mula ion o
public policies. The wo k is s uc u ed in d chap e s ha add ess
11
he le els (le els) o he U uguay Ri e in he municipali y o
U uguaiana, based on hyd ome eo ological da a collec ed o e
an annual pe iod. The pu pose is o e i y whe he he e is a
co ela ion be ween in ense ain all e en s ups eam and he
looding episodes obse ed in U uguaiana.
2.7. Da a Sou ce
All da a used in his s udy we e ob ained om he Na ional Wa e
and Basic Sani a ion Agency (ANA) h ough i s public
hyd ological moni o ing pla o m. ANA ope a es a ne wo k o
au oma ic and eleme ic s a ions, capable o eco ding
pa ame e s such as p ecipi a ion, i e le el (ele a ion) and low
in eal ime.
The s a ions used o his s udy a e dis ibu ed ac oss he
ollowing municipali ies:
● Ga uchos (Rain all S a ion);
● São Bo ja (Rain all S a ion);
● I aqui (Rain all S a ion);
● U uguaiana (Flu iome ic S a ion).
The s a ions ha e daily o accumula ed da a o 24-hou
in e als, wi h equen upda es and s anda dised measu emen
pa e ns. The in o ma ion was collec ed om 1 Janua y 2024 o
31 Decembe 2024.
12
2.8. Va iables Analysed
The ollowing a iables we e analysed:
● Ri e Le el (m): Ri e le el in me es, measu ed a he
U uguaiana lu iome ic s a ion. This is he main indica o o
looding.
● P ecipi a ion (mm): Accumula ed ain all in millime es,
eco ded a he Ga uchos, São Bo ja, I aqui and U uguaiana
s a ions. P ecipi a ion da a a e c ucial o iden i ying he o igin
and in ensi y o lood e en s.
2.9. Da a O ganisa ion and P ocessing
The aw da a was o ganised in o sp eadshee s o acili a e
isualisa ion and analysis. The ollowing p ocessing s eps we e
pe o med:
● Consis ency: Checking o missing o inconsis en da a and,
when possible, illing in by in e pola ion o disca ding.
● S anda disa ion: Con e sion o uni s, i necessa y, o ensu e
compa abili y be ween a iables.
● Agg ega ion: Calcula ion o daily, weekly, and mon hly
a e ages o iden i y pa e ns and ends.
2.10. S a is ical Analysis
To assess he co ela ion be ween ups eam ain all and wa e
le els in U uguaiana, he ollowing s a is ical app oaches we e
used:
13
● Co ela ion Analysis: Calcula ion o Pea son's co ela ion
coe icien o quan i y he s eng h and di ec ion o he linea
ela ionship be ween a iables. A coe icien close o 1
indica es a s ong posi i e co ela ion, while a alue close o -
1 indica es a s ong nega i e co ela ion.
● Reg ession Analysis: Cons uc ion o simple linea
eg ession models o es ima e he impac o ups eam
p ecipi a ion on i e le els in U uguaiana. This allows us o
p edic i e le el ises based on ain all olumes in o he
loca ions.
● Time Lag Analysis: Iden i ica ion o he esponse ime
be ween ups eam ain all peaks and wa e le el peaks in
U uguaiana. This analysis is undamen al o he de elopmen
o ea ly wa ning sys ems.
2.11. Flood C i e ia
Fo his s udy, a lood e en in U uguaiana was de ined as he
ele a ion o he U uguay Ri e abo e a ce ain ale le el,
his o ically es ablished by he local Ci il De ence. Al hough his
le el may a y, o analysis pu poses, any le el abo e 6.50
me es, which is he ale le el o he municipali y, was
conside ed a signi ican lood. This c i e ion allows he
iden i ica ion o e en s ha ha e a eal impac on he popula ion
and in as uc u e.
2.12. Limi a ions o he S udy
14
I is impo an o ecognise he limi a ions o his s udy:
● Analysis Pe iod: The analysis was es ic ed o a one-yea
pe iod (2024-2025), which may no cap u e he ull
hyd ological a iabili y o he basin. Longe his o ical se ies
would be ideal o a mo e obus unde s anding.
● Da a A ailabili y: The quali y and comple eness o he da a
depend on he ANA moni o ing ne wo k. Gaps o
inconsis encies in he da a may a ec he accu acy o he
analyses.
● Fac o s No Conside ed: This s udy ocused p ima ily on
p ecipi a ion. O he ac o s, such as land use and occupa ion,
basin geology, he p esence o dams, and e apo anspi a ion,
also in luence looding and we e no add essed.
2.13. Tools Used
The ollowing ools we e used o collec , o ganise, and analyse
he da a:
● ANA's Hid oWeb pla o m: Fo downloading
hyd ome eo ological da a.
● Sp eadshee s (Mic oso Excel/Google Shee s): Fo
o ganising, p ocessing, and ini ial isualisa ion o da a.
● S a is ical So wa e (R/Py hon): Fo mo e complex
s a is ical analyses, such as co ela ion and eg ession, and
o gene a ing ime se ies g aphs.
15
3. The U uguay Ri e Basin
3.1. Gene al Cha ac e is ics
The U uguay Ri e Basin is one o he mos impo an
hyd og aphic uni s in Sou h Ame ica, co e ing app oxima ely
174,000 km² in B azilian e i o y, mainly in he s a es o Rio
G ande do Sul and San a Ca a ina (ANA, 2017). The U uguay
Ri e uns o abou 1,200 km om i s sou ce, o med by he
con luence o he Canoas (in San a Ca a ina) and Pelo as (in Rio
G ande do Sul) i e s, o i s mou h on he P a a Ri e in
A gen ine e i o y, playing a undamen al ole as a na u al
di ide be ween B azil and A gen ina (IBGE, 2021; TUCCI,
2005).
In he B azilian con ex , he basin is di ided in o di e en sub-
basins, wi h emphasis on he middle sec ion, which comp ises
he municipali ies o São Bo ja, I aqui, Ga uchos, and
U uguaiana. This po ion o he basin is cha ac e ised by
ex ensi e allu ial plains and gen ly undula ing elie , condi ions
ha a ou looding du ing pe iods o inc eased i e low (MMA,
2006; MANAIA e al., 2018).
The basin is o icially pa o he U uguay Hyd og aphic Region,
as de ined by he Na ional Wa e and Basic Sani a ion Agency
(ANA, 2017), and is ex emely impo an o he in eg a ed
managemen o wa e esou ces on he sou he n bo de o he
coun y, equi ing cons an moni o ing and planning s a egies
aimed a educing socio-en i onmen al ulne abili ies.
16
3.2. Clima e and Rain all Regime
The p e ailing clima e in he basin is humid sub opical, wi h
ain all dis ibu ed h oughou he yea , bu wi h signi ican
seasonal peaks, especially be ween Oc obe and Ma ch. The
a e age annual ain all in he egions o São Bo ja, I aqui and
Ga uchos a ies be ween 1,200 and 1,800 mm, and may
exceed his limi in yea s in luenced by phenomena such as El
Niño.
The empo al and spa ial dis ibu ion o ain all is a decisi e ac o
in he hyd ological beha iou o he U uguay Ri e . In ense
ain all e en s o e a sho pe iod, especially in municipali ies
loca ed ups eam, con ibu e o an inc ease in he olume o
wa e ca ied by he i e , c ea ing he po en ial o sudden ises
in wa e le els in downs eam municipali ies, such as
U uguaiana.
3.3. Hyd og aphy and T ibu a ies
The hyd og aphic ne wo k o he U uguay basin is composed o
nume ous ibu a ies, which play a undamen al ole in su ace
uno and he lood egime. Among he main ibu a ies a e:
● Ijuí Ri e ;
● Pi a ini Ri e ;
● Ibicuí Ri e ;
● Qua aí Ri e ;
● Bu uí Ri e .
17
In he egion s udied, he municipali ies o Ga uchos, São Bo ja
and I aqui a e loca ed on he banks o he U uguay Ri e i sel o
i s main ibu a ies. Thus, ain all a hese poin s ep esen s a
di ec inc ease in wa e olume in he sys em, di ec ly in luencing
he le els measu ed in U uguaiana.
3.4. Relie and Land Use
The p edominan elie is plains and gen le hills, wi h slopes ha
a ou su ace uno . The la e a eas, especially on he banks
o he i e , a e widely used o mechanised ag icul u e, wi h
emphasis on he cul i a ion o i iga ed ice, soybeans, co n and
li es ock.
The in ensi e use o ag icul u al land, associa ed wi h he
emo al o ipa ian o es s and soil compac ion, con ibu es o
educed in il a ion and inc eased su ace uno . This ac o
accele a es he ans e o ainwa e o wa e bodies, con ibu ing
o as e and mo e in ense lood peaks.
3.5. Hyd osocial Impo ance o he Basin
The U uguay Ri e basin is s a egically impo an o wa e
supply, ag icul u e, powe gene a ion, na iga ion, and
ec ea ion. In addi ion, i is di ec ly linked o he li es and
li elihoods o housands o people. Du ing pe iods o d ough , he
dec ease in he i e le el a ec s i iga ion and ag icul u al
p oduc ion. Du ing pe iods o looding, he inunda ion o u ban
18
and u al a eas causes dis up ion o he popula ion, economic
losses and conside able social impac s.
The U uguay Ri e also se es as an elemen o cul u al and
his o ical iden i y o he peoples o he egion. Se e al ci ies
p ese e adi ions and e en s linked o i e side li e, which
ein o ce he connec ion be ween he communi y and he na u al
en i onmen .
4. Analysis o Rain all and Wa e Le el Da a in U uguaiana
This chap e explo es he ela ionship be ween ain all olumes
eco ded in he municipali y o I aqui and he le els o he
U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana. The p oximi y and geog aphical
posi ion o I aqui in ela ion o U uguaiana make i a c ucial
moni o ing poin o unde s anding he dynamics o looding.
4.1. O e iew o he Wa e Le els o he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana
Th oughou he pe iod analysed (June 2024 o June 2025), he
wa e le el o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana a ied
signi ican ly, e lec ing di e en hyd ological egimes and
p ecipi a ion e en s. The g aph "Wa e Le els and Rain all in
U uguaiana" clea ly illus a es hese mo emen s (Figu e 1).
19
Figu e 1. Wa e le els and ain all in U uguaiana.
We obse ed ha in June 2024, he ini ial le el eco ded was
614.02 me es. The i e le el dec eased in July (590.99 m) and
Augus (467.38 m), eaching one o i s lowes poin s in Ma ch
2025 (171.79 m). Howe e , om Ap il 2025 onwa ds, he e was
a no able ise, culmina ing in a le el o 751.05 me es in June
2025, which ep esen s he maximum peak obse ed in he
pe iod. These peaks indica e momen s o looding ha impac ed
he egion.
4.2. Rain all Pa e ns in U uguaiana
Rain all pa e ns in he ci y o U uguaiana i sel a e a di ec ac o
in luencing he i e le el. Analysing he ain all da a (mm), i can
be seen ha he highes local ain all olumes do no always
coincide wi h he highes peaks, sugges ing ha local
p ecipi a ion is one componen , bu no he only one, in he
occu ence o mo e se e e loods.
20
Fo example, in May 2025, U uguaiana eco ded a signi ican
olume o 428.60 mm o ain all, p eceding he la ge ise in wa e
le els in June 2025. In con as , in Augus 2024, ain all was
124.00 mm, and in No embe 2024, 138.60 mm, wi h wa e
le els showing a dec easing o ela i ely s able beha iou in
hose mon hs. This poin s o he complexi y o he ela ionship
be ween local p ecipi a ion and i e le els.
4.3. Signi ican Flood E en s in U uguaiana
Two pe iods s and ou as he mos signi ican lood e en s,
acco ding o wa e le el da a:
● June 2024: The le el o he U uguay Ri e eached 614.02
me es. Al hough local ain all was 21.40 mm, his is a
conside able le el, indica ing he in luence o wa e olumes
coming om ups eam o om p e ious ain all.
● June 2025: This mon h eco ded he highes wa e le el o
he pe iod, a 751.05 me es. This peak was p eceded by a high
olume o ain all in U uguaiana in May 2025 (428.60 mm),
sugges ing ha local con ibu ions we e an impo an ac o in
his lood.
Ini ial analysis o he da a om U uguaiana shows ha , al hough
local ain all con ibu es o he ise in he i e le el, he
magni ude o he la ges loods may also be ela ed o ac o s
ex e nal o di ec p ecipi a ion o e he ci y, such as ain all in he
27
8.2. Fi s Qua e (Janua y o Ma ch)
In he i s qua e o 2024, ain all olumes we e mode a e, and
he le el o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana emained ela i ely
low, wi h no signi ican looding. This pe iod is ypically a
ansi ion pe iod, wi h he end o summe and he beginning o
au umn, when ain all has no ye eached he highe olumes
ha cha ac e ise he win e and sp ing mon hs.
8.3. Second Qua e (Ap il o June)
The second qua e (Ap il o June) saw he i s signi ican lood
e en . In June 2024, he wa e le el o he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana peaked, d i en by conside able ain all in he
ups eam s a ions. This e en demons a ed he i e 's apid
esponse o p ecipi a ion in he basin, wi h a ime lag o
app oxima ely 2 o 3 days be ween he ain all peaks in I aqui
and São Bo ja and he ise in wa e le els in U uguaiana.
8.4. Thi d Qua e (July o Sep embe )
The hi d qua e (July o Sep embe ) was cha ac e ised by a
second lood e en , wi h he i e le el eaching a new peak in
Sep embe 2024. Pe sis en and high- olume ain all in
Ga uchos, São Bo ja, and I aqui con ibu ed o his ise. De ailed
analysis showed ha he con ibu ion om Ga uchos, al hough
u he away, was undamen al o he o al olume o wa e ha
eached U uguaiana, highligh ing he impo ance o moni o ing
he en i e basin.
28
8.5. Fou h Qua e (Oc obe o Decembe )
The ou h qua e (Oc obe o Decembe ) saw he hi d and mos
signi ican lood e en o 2024, wi h he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana eaching i s maximum le el in No embe . This peak
was he esul o in ense and concen a ed ain all in all ups eam
s a ions, especially in I aqui and São Bo ja. The co ela ion
be ween ain all olumes and wa e le el ises was mos e iden
du ing his pe iod, ein o cing he s udy's cen al hypo hesis.
8.6. S a is ical Co ela ion
S a is ical analysis con i med a s ong posi i e co ela ion
be ween ain all olumes in ups eam s a ions (Ga uchos, São
Bo ja, and I aqui) and wa e le els in he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana. Pea son's co ela ion coe icien was consis en ly
high, indica ing ha inc eased ain all ups eam a s di ec ly
associa ed wi h a ise in he i e le el downs eam. Linea
eg ession models de eloped om hese da a showed good
p edic i e powe , which may be use ul o wa ning sys ems.
8.7. Response Time
The esponse ime ( ime lag) be ween ain all peaks ups eam
and wa e le el peaks in U uguaiana anged om 2 o 4 days,
depending on he loca ion o he p ecipi a ion s a ion. Fo I aqui,
he lag was sho e (2-3 days), while o São Bo ja and
Ga uchos, i was sligh ly longe (3-4 days). This in o ma ion is
29
c ucial o he Ci il De ence, as i allows o a mo e accu a e
es ima e o he ime a ailable o decision-making and he
implemen a ion o p e en ion and e acua ion measu es.
8.8. Main Pa ial Conclusions
The esul s o he 2024 da a analysis show ha :
● Ups eam ain all is he main ac o con ibu ing o looding in
U uguaiana.
● The e is a s ong s a is ical co ela ion be ween p ecipi a ion
olumes in Ga uchos, São Bo ja and I aqui and he wa e
le els o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana.
● Response ime ( ime lag) is a key elemen in he de elopmen
o e ec i e ea ly wa ning sys ems.
● The U uguay Ri e basin unc ions as an in e connec ed
sys em, whe e p ecipi a ion a any poin ups eam con ibu es
o he hyd ological dynamics downs eam.
9. Conclusions and Final Conside a ions
This chap e p esen s a summa y o he main esul s ob ained
h oughou he esea ch, wi h an emphasis on he in eg a ed
analysis o hyd ological da a and applied geo echnologies. The
discussion co e s he p ac ical implica ions o moni o ing and
p e en ing ex eme e en s, such as looding in he U uguay
Ri e , ein o cing he ele ance o ea ly wa ning sys ems and
e idence-based e i o ial managemen (BRASIL, 2016; TUCCI,
2008). In addi ion, he me hodological limi a ions o he s udy a e
30
ecognised, especially ega ding he empo al and spa ial
esolu ion o some o he da a used, as al eady highligh ed by
Souza e al. (2020) in simila wo ks.
The chap e also p oposes di ec ions o u u e esea ch,
sugges ing he inco po a ion o hyd odynamic models and
ex ended ime se ies o be e unde s and he basin's esponse
o clima e change (ANA, 2019; MANTOVANI e al., 2021).
Finally, i highligh s he impo ance o collec i e awa eness o he
dynamics o he U uguay Ri e and he impac s o an h opogenic
ac ions, in line wi h Ribei o's (2015) e lec ions on he need o a
cul u e o p e en ion and adap a ion in he ace o en i onmen al
isks.
9.1. Summa y o Resul s
The analysis o hyd ome eo ological da a con i med ha hea y
ain all in he egions o I aqui, São Bo ja, and Ga uchos is
c ucial o he o ma ion and magni ude o loods in U uguaiana
(Figu e 1). A clea co ela ion was obse ed be ween ups eam
p ecipi a ion olumes and he ise in he le els o he U uguay
Ri e in U uguaiana, wi h di e en esponse imes ( ime lags)
depending on he dis ance om he loca ions. The lood peak in
June 2025 in U uguaiana was p eceded by signi ican ain all in
I aqui, São Bo ja and Ga uchos, demons a ing he cumula i e
and in e connec ed na u e o he U uguay Ri e basin.
31
Figu e 2. Mon hly p ecipi a ion in he egions ups eam o U uguaiana -
I aqui, São Bo ja and Ga uchos.
9.2. Implica ions o Moni o ing and P e en ion
The esul s o his s udy ha e impo an implica ions o he
de elopmen o ea ly wa ning sys ems and mo e e ec i e wa e
esou ce managemen in U uguaiana. Con inuous moni o ing o
ain all a ups eam s a ions (I aqui, São Bo ja, and Ga uchos) c
ly p o ide aluable in o ma ion o an icipa ing lood e en s,
allowing ci il de ence and local communi ies o implemen
p e en i e measu es ea lie . Unde s anding he ime lags
be ween ups eam ain all and i e ise in U uguaiana is
essen ial o op imise hese wa ning sys ems. Figu e 3 shows he
a en ion, wa ning and lood le els.
32
Figu e 3. A en ion, ale and lood le els in U uguaiana
9.3. S udy Limi a ions and Sugges ions o Fu u e Resea ch
This s udy was limi ed o a one-yea analysis pe iod (June 2024
o June 2025). Al hough i p o ided aluable insigh s, u u e
analyses wi h longe his o ical se ies could u he deepen he
conclusions and iden i y long- e m lood pa e ns. Fu u e
esea ch should include:
● Analysis o his o ical hyd ome eo ological da a se ies o
iden i y lood ends and cycles o e longe pe iods.
● Ad anced hyd ological modelling o simula e lood
scena ios and assess he impac o di e en p ecipi a ion
olumes and basin condi ions.
● S udy o he in luence o o he ac o s, such as land use
and occupa ion, de o es a ion, and in as uc u e wo ks, on lood
dynamics.
● Assessmen o he social and economic ulne abili y o
i e side communi ies o in o m public policies on adap a ion and
esilience.
33
9.4. The impo ance o awa eness
The esul s o his s udy highligh he impo ance o aising
awa eness abou he hyd ological dynamics o he U uguay Ri e
and he s ong in e dependence be ween he di e en sec o s o
he i e basin. I is essen ial ha he popula ion, public
manage s, and a ious segmen s o socie y unde s and ha
in e en ions ca ied ou in one pa o he basin can ha e
signi ican downs eam e ec s, ein o cing he need o
in eg a ed wa e esou ce managemen (BRAGA; TUNDISI;
TUNDISI, 2014; ANA, 2020). In his con ex , en i onmen al
educa ion and communi y in ol emen play a cen al ole in
building a cul u e ocused on p e en ion and adap a ion o
ex eme e en s, such as loods, p omo ing g ea e esilience and
sa e y o he i e side popula ions o U uguaiana (JACOBI,
2003; PHILIPPI JR. e al., 2017).
34
Chap e 2 - In luence o Ups eam Rain all on
Flooding in U uguaiana
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu 1
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an1
Jocema An onio Toso2
Diogo Rica do Ma ins Bales a3
Cassiane J ayj de Melo4
1 S uden in he Aquacul u e Enginee ing Cou se, UNIPAMPA; 2 Aquacul u e Technologis ,
UNIPAMPA; 3 Adminis a o , Law S uden , Pos g adua e in En i onmen al Law and MSc
in In e na ional Business, Mus Uni e si y; (4) Ag icul u al Enginee , MSc Geog aphy:
Remo e Sensing; PhD Soil Science, UFSM.
1. In oduc ion
The dynamics o uno in i e basins is a mul i ac o ial and
highly in e dependen p ocess, in luenced by a iables such as
he in ensi y and du a ion o ain all, opog aphical
cha ac e is ics, soil ype and use, ege a ion co e , and he
exis ence o su ace wa e bodies (TUCCI, 2008; MOTA e al.,
2019). In he con ex o he U uguay Ri e wa e shed, hese
ac o s become mo e complex due o i s la ge e i o ial
ex ension and he signi ican con ibu ion o ibu a ies and sub-
basins loca ed ups eam, which inc eases he hyd ological
esponse ime and he challenges in moni o ing loods (ANA,
2019; BARROS e al., 2020).
Unde s anding he mechanisms o su ace uno in he egion is
he e o e essen ial o he de elopmen o e icien s a egies o
o ecas ing and managing ex eme hyd ological e en s in
ulne able municipali ies such as U uguaiana. This in eg a ed
35
app oach, combining en i onmen al da a and geo echnology
ools, has been ad oca ed by se e al au ho s as a p omising
pa h o clima e esilience and he educ ion o lood- ela ed
disas e s (MANTOVANI e al., 2021; RIBEIRO, 2015).
1.2. Con ibu ion o Ups eam Municipali ies
The municipali ies o Ga uchos, São Bo ja and I aqui, loca ed
ups eam o U uguaiana, play a c ucial ole in he o ma ion o
loods. The ains ha occu in hese egions con ibu e di ec ly o
he olume o wa e ha lows downs eam. The sum o he
p ecipi a ion in hese loca ions, combined wi h he su ace uno
om hei espec i e sub-basins, esul s in a signi ican inc ease
in he low o he U uguay Ri e as i app oaches U uguaiana
(Figu e 1). The in ensi y and spa ial dis ibu ion o hese ains a e
decisi e o he magni ude and speed o he i e 's ise.
Figu e 1. Compa ison be ween o al ain all ups eam e sus a e age wa e
le el in U uguaiana.
36
1.3. Time Lag
The ime lag is he ime i akes o he e ec o ups eam ain all
o be el in he i e le el a U uguaiana. This lag a ies
acco ding o he dis ance om he loca ion and he hyd ological
cha ac e is ics o he i e sec ion. As obse ed, he lag is sho e
o I aqui (2-3 days) and longe o Ga uchos (3-4 days).
Unde s anding and quan i ying his lag is i al o he
e ec i eness o wa ning sys ems, as i allows au ho i ies and he
popula ion o ha e su icien ime o p epa e and ake he
necessa y measu es.
1.4. In luence o he Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Rain all
I is no only he o al olume o ain all ha ma e s, bu also i s
spa ial dis ibu ion. Rain all concen a ed in a speci ic a ea o he
basin can gene a e localised low peaks, while ain all dis ibu ed
h oughou he basin can esul in a mo e g adual bu sus ained
ise in i e le els. Analysis o he spa ial dis ibu ion o ain all in
ups eam s a ions p o ides insigh s in o how di e en
p ecipi a ion scena ios can impac lood dynamics in U uguaiana.
1.5. Impo ance o Soil Cha ac e is ics and Vege a ion Co e
Soil cha ac e is ics (pe meabili y, sa u a ion) and ege a ion
co e ( o es s, pas u es, u banised a eas) di ec ly in luence
wa e in il a ion capaci y and su ace uno eloci y. A eas wi h
compac ed soils and li le ege a ion end o gene a e as e
uno and la ge olumes o wa e o he i e , ampli ying he isk
o looding. The p ese a ion o ipa ian o es s and he adop ion
43
homes and belongings a e long- e m impac s ha a ec he
men al heal h o communi ies.
3.3. Damage o ag icul u e and li es ock
The U uguaiana egion has a s ong ag icul u al and li es ock
oca ion, and hese sec o s a e se e ely a ec ed by looding.
The looding o c ops (especially ice), he loss o li es ock, he
des uc ion o u al in as uc u e ( ences, sheds) and he
con amina ion o soil and wa e by was e a e some o he
damages. The eco e y o hese ac i i ies can ake mon hs o
e en yea s, gene a ing signi ican economic losses o p oduce s
and he local economy.
3.4. Dis up ion o se ices and logis ics
Floods o en cause he in e up ion o essen ial se ices and
a ec egional logis ics. Highways and b idges a e looded,
hinde ing he anspo o people and goods. The unc ioning o
hospi als, schools, and o he public se ices may be
comp omised. The d y po o U uguaiana, an impo an expo
co ido , is di ec ly impac ed by a ia ions in he i e le el,
causing delays and losses o in e na ional ade.
3.5. Indi ec economic impac s
In addi ion o di ec losses, loods gene a e a se ies o indi ec
economic impac s. The educ ion in economic ac i i y, he
dec ease in consump ion, he loss o jobs and he need o
in es men in econs uc ion and eco e y place a bu den on
44
public and p i a e budge s. Tou ism is also a ec ed, as he
image o he ci y as a ou is des ina ion can be damaged by
looding e en s.
3.6. Social ulne abili y and inequali y
The impac s o looding a e disp opo iona e, a ec ing socially
ulne able popula ions mo e se e ely. Residen s o isk a eas,
wi h less access o esou ces and in o ma ion, a e he mos
a ec ed. nd social inequali y is ampli ied, as low-income amilies
ind i mo e di icul o eco e om losses and ebuild hei li es.
I is essen ial ha public policies conside his dimension o
ulne abili y and p io i ise assis ance o he mos a ec ed
popula ions.
3.7. Ins i u ional esponses and he cos o eco e y
The ins i u ional esponse o loods in ol es he mobilisa ion o
ci il de ence, social assis ance, heal h and sa e y agencies. The
cos o eco e y is high, including expenses o shel e , ood,
medicine, housing econs uc ion and in as uc u e. The
e iciency o he esponse and he capaci y o eco e y depend
on coo dina ion be ween di e en le els o go e nmen , ci il
socie y and he p i a e sec o .
3.8. Lessons and u u e p ospec s
The looding e en s in U uguaiana o e impo an lessons o he
u u e. The need o in es in p e en ion, ea ly wa ning sys ems,
u ban planning, esilience and en i onmen al educa ion is
45
e iden . The u u e ou look poin s o an in ensi ica ion o ex eme
e en s due o clima e change, which ein o ces he u gency o
adap i e and long- e m ac ions o ensu e he sa e y and
sus ainable de elopmen o he egion.
3.9. Summa y able o main impac s:
Impac
ca ego y
Desc ip ion Examples Mi iga ion/Adap a
ion Measu es
Popula ion
and Housing
Displacemen ,
loss o
p ope y,
psychological
s ess.
E acua ion o
amilies,
empo a y
shel e s,
damage o
homes.
Con ingency plans,
isk zoning,
psychosocial
suppo .
Ag icul u e
and Li es ock
Loss o c ops
and li es ock,
des uc ion o
u al
in as uc u e.
Flooding o
ice paddies,
dea h o
animals,
des oyed
ences.
Resilien
ag icul u al
p ac ices, u al
insu ance, c op
di e si ica ion.
Se ices and
Logis ics
Road
closu es,
dis up ion o
essen ial
se ices.
Blocked
mo o ways,
lack o
wa e /ene gy,
delays a d y
po s.
Resilien
in as uc u e,
al e na i e ou es,
eme gency
communica ion
sys ems.
Indi ec
Economy
Reduc ion in
economic
ac i i y, job
losses,
econs uc ion
cos s.
Local
comme ce
a ec ed,
dec ease in
ou ism,
inc ease in
public
expendi u e.
Special c edi
lines, p omo ion o
en ep eneu ship,
economic
di e si ica ion.
46
Impac
ca ego y
Desc ip ion Examples Mi iga ion/Adap a
ion Measu es
Social
Vulne abili y
Disp opo iona
e impac on
low-income
popula ions.
Di icul y in
eco e y,
limi ed access
o esou ces.
Inclusi e social
policies,
assis ance
p og ammes,
aining.
4. The Fu u e o Floods: T ends and Clima e Change
4.1. In oduc ion
The u u e o looding in he U uguay Ri e basin, and in
U uguaiana in pa icula , is in insically linked o clima e change
ends. The in ensi ica ion o ex eme e en s, such as hea ie
ain all and longe d ough s, ep esen s a g owing challenge o
isk managemen and communi y adap a ion. This chap e
explo es he p ojec ions and ac o s ha will shape he lood
egime in he coming decades.
4.2. Inc eased equency o ex eme e en s
Clima e models and ecen obse a ions indica e an inc ease in
he equency and in ensi y o ex eme p ecipi a ion e en s in
se e al egions o B azil, including he sou h. This means ha
loods may become mo e common and mo e se e e, equi ing a
eassessmen o planning and p e en ion s a egies. The
inc ease in global empe a u e con ibu es o g ea e e apo a ion
47
and, consequen ly, o g ea e a ailabili y o mois u e in he
a mosphe e, esul ing in mo e in ense ain all.
4.3. The ole o El Niño and La Niña
The El Niño and La Niña phenomena, which a e pa o he El
Niño-Sou he n Oscilla ion (ENSO) cycle, ha e a signi ican
in luence on ain all pa e ns in Sou h Ame ica. Du ing El Niño,
sou he n B azil ends o expe ience abo e-a e age ain all,
which can in ensi y looding. La Niña, on he o he hand, is
gene ally associa ed wi h pe iods o d ough . A y unde s anding
o hese cycles and hei p edic ion a e c ucial o an icipa ing
hyd ological scena ios and adjus ing managemen s a egies.
4.4. Regional scena ios o sou he n B azil
Clima e s udies and p ojec ions o sou he n B azil poin o:
● Tempe a u e inc ease: Rise in a e age annual
empe a u es.
● Changes in ain all pa e ns: A endency o ain all o be
mo e concen a ed in sho pe iods, wi h g ea e in ensi y, and
longe pe iods o d ough .
● Ex eme e en s: Inc eased equency o loods and
d ough s, wi h impac s on ag icul u e, wa e esou ces, and
in as uc u e.
These scena ios ein o ce he need o adap i e and long- e m
planning o he U uguay Ri e basin.
48
4.5. An h opogenic p essu es and isk ampli ica ion
In addi ion o clima e change, an h opogenic p essu es (caused
by human ac ion) ampli y he isk o looding. De o es a ion,
uncon olled u banisa ion, soil sealing and occupa ion o isk
a eas con ibu e o inc eased su ace uno and educed soil
wa e abso p ion capaci y. I is essen ial ha land use and
occupa ion policies in he U uguay Ri e Basin ake hese ac o s
in o accoun and p omo e mo e sus ainable de elopmen .
4.6. Adap i e planning and na u e-based solu ions
In he ace o he unce ain ies and challenges posed by clima e
change, adap i e planning and na u e-based solu ions (NBS)
eme ge as p omising s a egies. Adap i e planning in ol es he
abili y o adjus s a egies and ac ions in esponse o changes in
clima ic and hyd ological condi ions. NBS, such as he
es o a ion o ipa ian o es s, he c ea ion o we lands, and he
implemen a ion o g een in as uc u e, use na u al p ocesses o
manage lood isks, p omo ing en i onmen al and social bene i s.
4.7. Technology and con inuous moni o ing
Technology plays a key ole in u u e lood managemen .
Con inuous moni o ing, using emo e senso s, sa elli es, and
au oma ic hyd ome eo ological s a ions, allows o he collec ion
o eal- ime, high-p ecision da a. The de elopmen o ad anced
hyd ological models and he applica ion o a i icial in elligence
49
can imp o e o ecas ing and wa ning capabili ies, p o iding mo e
accu a e and imely in o ma ion o decision-making.
4.8. Educa ion o clima e esilience
Educa ion o clima e esilience is essen ial o empowe
communi ies o deal wi h he impac s o clima e change and
looding. This includes:
● Awa eness: In o ming he popula ion abou isks and
p e en ion measu es.
● Capaci y building: T aining communi ies o ac in
eme gency si ua ions and de elop local con ingency plans.
● Engagemen : P omo ing ci izen pa icipa ion in he
de elopmen o solu ions and he implemen a ion o public
policies.
4.9. Final conside a ions
The u u e o looding in he U uguay Ri e basin is a complex
challenge, bu no an insu moun able one. The combina ion o
adap i e planning, na u e-based solu ions, he use o ad anced
echnology, and educa ion o clima e esilience a e he pilla s o
building a sa e and mo e sus ainable u u e o U uguaiana and
i e side communi ies. Collabo a ion be ween go e nmen s,
esea ch ins i u ions, he p i a e sec o , and ci il socie y is
essen ial o add ess hese challenges and ensu e wa e secu i y
in he egion.
50
5. Conclusions and Recommenda ions
5.1. Gene al Final Conside a ions
This book has p oposed a comp ehensi e analysis o he
looding e en s o he U uguay Ri e in he U uguaiana egion,
h ough he in eg a ion o hyd ome eo ological da a, geospa ial
in o ma ion, and socio-en i onmen al aspec s. The in es iga ion
add essed e e y hing om he physical p ocesses o i e basin
dynamics o he socio-economic impac s o looding, as well as
discussing possible u u e scena ios in ligh o global clima e
change (IPCC, 2021; TUCCI, 2008; ANA, 2019).
The complexi y inhe en in his phenomenon equi es a
mul idisciplina y app oach in ol ing a eas such as clima ology,
hyd ology, geo echnologies, u ban planning, and isk
managemen . In his sense, he de elopmen o e ec i e
solu ions equi es coo dina ion be ween esea che s, public
manage s, local communi ies, and ci il de ence agencies, as
highligh ed by Ribei o (2015) and Ma andola J . and Hogan
(2014), ein o cing he need o collabo a i e and in eg a ed
ac ions o mi iga e he ad e se e ec s o loods and p omo e
e i o ial esilience.
5.2. Summa y o Findings
The main indings o his s udy can be summa ised as ollows:
51
● Di ec Co ela ion: The e is a s ong co ela ion be ween
p ecipi a ion olumes a ups eam s a ions (Ga uchos, São
Bo ja, and I aqui) and he wa e le els o he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana, con i ming he in luence o ups eam ain all on he
occu ence o loods.
● Time Lag: The esponse ime be ween ups eam ain all
peaks and wa e le el peaks in U uguaiana a ies om 2 o 4
days, which is c ucial in o ma ion o ea ly wa ning sys ems.
● Mul i ace ed Impac s: Floods ha e signi ican
socioeconomic impac s on he popula ion, ag icul u e,
in as uc u e, and logis ics, wi h low-income communi ies being
he mos ulne able.
● Clima e Change: P ojec ions indica e an inc ease in he
equency and in ensi y o ex eme e en s, which equi es
adap i e planning and long- e m solu ions.
5.3. Technical and S a egic Recommenda ions
Based on he indings, he ollowing ecommenda ions a e
p oposed:
● S eng hening Moni o ing: Expand and mode nise he
ne wo k o hyd ome eo ological s a ions, ensu ing eal- ime,
high-p ecision da a collec ion.
● De elopmen o P edic i e Models: In es in esea ch
and de elopmen o ad anced hyd ological models capable o
simula ing lood scena ios and p o iding mo e accu a e
o ecas s.
52
● Op imisa ion o Ale Sys ems: Imp o e communica ion
channels and ac ion p o ocols o ensu e ha ale s each he
popula ion in a imely and clea manne .
● Resilien U ban Planning: Re iew and implemen mas e
plans ha conside isk a eas, p omo e app op ia e zoning, and
encou age he cons uc ion o esilien in as uc u e.
● Na u e-Based Solu ions: Encou age he es o a ion o
ipa ian o es s, he c ea ion o we lands, and o he solu ions ha
use na u al p ocesses o manage lood isks.
● Educa ion and Awa eness: De elop ongoing
en i onmen al educa ion p og ammes o he popula ion,
ocusing on isk p e en ion and building clima e esilience.
● In e -ins i u ional Coope a ion: S eng hen coo dina ion
be ween di e en le els o go e nmen , esea ch ins i u ions, he
p i a e sec o , and ci il socie y o in eg a ed basin managemen .
5.4. Pa hs o he u u e
The pa h o a sa e and mo e sus ainable u u e in U uguaiana,
in he ace o he challenges posed by looding, in ol es
in eg a ing scien i ic knowledge wi h public policies and engaging
socie y. Adap ing o clima e change and building esilience a e
ongoing p ocesses ha equi e in es men , inno a ion, and
collabo a ion. May his book se e as a esou ce o decision-
making and inspi e new esea ch and ac ions in a ou o wa e
secu i y and he well-being o he communi ies along he
U uguay Ri e .
59
allows o da a alida ion, iden i ica ion o gaps in moni o ing, and
he p oposal o solu ions based on scien i ic e idence.
Ci il de ence agencies, bo h a he municipal and s a e le els,
a e p ima y use s o hyd ome eo ological da a. The con inuous
exchange o in o ma ion be ween ANA and ci il de ence is i al
o lood wa nings o be issued in a imely manne and wi h he
g ea es possible accu acy. In addi ion, ci il de ence can p o ide
aluable eedback on he applicabili y o da a in he ield and he
speci ic needs o a ec ed communi ies, con ibu ing o he
imp o emen o moni o ing sys ems.
Non-go e nmen al o ganisa ions (NGOs) and u al p oduce s'
associa ions also play an impo an ole. Many o hese en i ies
ca y ou local moni o ing o i e s and ain all, collec ing da a
ha , al hough on a smalle scale, can complemen ANA
in o ma ion and p o ide impo an de ails abou condi ions in
speci ic a eas. The in eg a ion o his communi y da a, when
possible, can en ich unde s anding o he dynamics o he basin
and s eng hen local esponse capaci y.
Finally, coope a ion wi h ins i u ions in neighbou ing coun ies,
such as A gen ina and U uguay, is c ucial, gi en he
ansbounda y na u e o he U uguay Ri e basin. The exchange
o da a and in o ma ion on hyd ome eo ological condi ions
h oughou he basin allows o a mo e comple e and in eg a ed
iew, which is essen ial o he managemen o loods ha a ec
mul iple coun ies. The cons uc ion o collabo a i e ne wo ks
and he es ablishmen o da a sha ing p o ocols a e undamen al
60
s eps owa ds mo e e ec i e and coo dina ed wa e
managemen h oughou he U uguay Ri e basin.
5.9. De ails o Flood Peaks in U uguaiana
Fo a mo e in-dep h unde s anding o he dynamics o looding in
U uguaiana, i is essen ial o analyse in de ail he peak le els
eco ded be ween June 2024 and June 2025. These e en s
ep esen c i ical momen s when he U uguay Ri e o e lowed
i s banks, impac ing he ci y and i s su ounding a eas. The
analysis o each peak allows us o iden i y he
hyd ome eo ological condi ions ha p eceded hem and hei
possible causes.
The i s signi ican peak obse ed occu ed in June 2024, when
he U uguay Ri e eached 614.02 me es. Al hough local
p ecipi a ion in U uguaiana ha mon h was ela i ely low (21.40
mm), his conside able le el s ongly sugges s he in luence o
wa e olumes om ups eam o accumula ed p ecipi a ion in
p e ious pe iods. This e en highligh s he impo ance o
analysing he basin as a whole, and no jus local condi ions, in
o de o unde s and looding. The ise in wa e le els in June
2024 may ha e been he esul o hea y ains ha occu ed days
o weeks ea lie in highe egions o he basin, whose wa e s ook
ime o a el down he i e o U uguaiana. The absence o
signi ican local ain all du ing he peak o he lood ein o ces he
hesis o he in e connec edness o he basin and he in luence
o ups eam a eas.
61
The second peak, and he mos signi ican o he pe iod
analysed, was eco ded in June 2025, wi h he U uguay Ri e
eaching 751.05 me es. This e en was p eceded by a high
olume o ain all in U uguaiana i sel in May 2025 (428.60 mm).
The local con ibu ion, in his case, was an impo an ac o in he
magni ude o his lood. Howe e , i is c ucial o conside ha , as
will be de ailed in subsequen chap e s, ups eam ain all also
played a key ole. The combina ion o in ense ain all in he ci y
and ups eam a eas c ea ed a scena io conduci e ing a la ge-
scale lood. The analysis o his pa icula e en se es as a case
s udy o illus a e he complexi y o he in e ac ion be ween local
and egional ac o s in he o ma ion o loods.
In addi ion o hese peaks, i is impo an o no e he beha iou o
he i e in o he pe iods. Fo example, he educ ion in he i e
le el in July (590.99 m) and Augus (467.38 m) 2024, and he
eaching o one o he lowes poin s in Ma ch 2025 (171.79 m),
demons a e he na u al a iabili y o he U uguay Ri e 's
hyd ological egime. These pe iods o low wa e le els a e
equally impo an o wa e esou ce managemen , especially in
ela ion o supply and na iga ion. The ansi ion om pe iods o
d ough o apid looding, as obse ed om Ap il 2025 onwa ds,
unde lines he need o con inuous moni o ing and e ec i e
wa ning sys ems ha can p edic hese ab up changes in i e
le els.
A de ailed unde s anding o each lood e en , including analysis
o local and ups eam ain all condi ions, he du a ion o he ise
in wa e le els, and he obse ed impac s, is essen ial o
62
imp o ing p edic i e models and disas e esponse s a egies.
These his o ical da a, e en i om a limi ed pe iod, p o ide
aluable in o ma ion o isk planning and managemen in
U uguaiana.
5.10. Compa a i e Analysis o Rain all and Wa e Le el
Pa e ns
The ela ionship be ween ain all pa e ns and he wa e le el o
he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana is complex and mul i ace ed. A
de ailed compa a i e analysis o local ain all da a and i e
le els e eals ha , al hough p ecipi a ion in he ci y i sel is a
con ibu ing ac o , i is no always he sole o main de e minan
o he mos se e e loods. This obse a ion is c ucial o demys i y
he idea ha only local ain all is esponsible o looding and o
ein o ce he impo ance o he i e basin as an in e connec ed
sys em.
Upon examining he da a, i is clea ha he highes ain all
olumes eco ded in U uguaiana do no always coincide wi h he
highes wa e le el peaks. Fo example, in May 2025,
U uguaiana eco ded a signi ican ain all olume o 428.60 mm,
which p eceded he la ge ise in wa e le els in June 2025. In his
case, local p ecipi a ion played an e iden ole in in ensi ying he
lood. Howe e , a o he imes, he dynamics a e di e en .
In Augus 2024, ain all in U uguaiana was 124.00 mm, and in
No embe 2024, i was 138.60 mm. In hese mon hs, i e le els
showed a dec easing o ela i ely s able beha iou , despi e he
63
conside able ain all olumes. This sugges s ha , e en wi h local
p ecipi a ion, i he e is no signi ican in low o wa e om
ups eam a eas, he i e may no each lood le els. This
dissocia ion be ween local ain all and i e le els is a clea
indica ion ha o he ac o s, especially ain all in he uppe
po ions o he basin, a e c ucial o he occu ence o la ge-scale
looding.
The compa a i e analysis should also conside he concep o
soil sa u a ion. Soil al eady sa u a ed by p e ious ain all, e en
i o lesse in ensi y, will ha e a educed capaci y o abso b new
p ecipi a ion, esul ing in g ea e su ace uno and,
consequen ly, a mo e apid ise in i e le els. The e o e, he
sequence o ain all e en s, and no jus he isola ed olume o a
single ain all, is an impo an ac o o conside .
In addi ion, he du a ion and in ensi y o he ain a e mo e
ele an han jus he o al olume. High-in ensi y ain all o e a
sho pe iod can gene a e apid su ace uno and ab up lood
peaks, while lowe -in ensi y bu longe -las ing ain all can
sa u a e he soil and con ibu e o a mo e g adual bu sus ained
ise in i e le els. The combina ion o hese ac o s makes he
analysis o ain all and wa e le el pa e ns a complex ask ha
equi es a holis ic app oach.
In summa y, compa a i e analysis o ain all and ele a ion da a
in U uguaiana ein o ces he idea ha looding is a complex
phenomenon in luenced by an in e ac ion o local and egional
ac o s. Local p ecipi a ion is an impo an componen , bu he
64
magni ude o he la ges loods is in insically linked o ain all in
he ups eam po ions o he i e basin. This unde s anding is
undamen al o he de elopmen o mo e accu a p edic i e
models and o he implemen a ion o isk managemen
s a egies ha conside he basin as an in eg a ed sys em.
65
Chap e 3 - Case S udies: Floods and Con ibu ions
Jocema An onio Toso1,2
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu 1
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an1
Diogo Rica do Ma ins Bales a3
Cassiane J ayj de Melo4
1 S uden in he Aquacul u e Enginee ing Cou se, UNIPAMPA; 2 Aquacul u e Technologis ,
UNIPAMPA; 3 Adminis a o , Law S uden , Pos g adua e in En i onmen al Law and MSc
in In e na ional Business, Mus Uni e si y; (4) Ag icul u al Enginee , MSc Geog aphy:
Remo e Sensing; PhD Soil Science, UFSM.
1. In oduc ion
This chap e p o ides an in-dep h analysis o he hyd ological dynamics o
he U uguay Ri e , wi h an emphasis on he loods ha occu ed in June
2025 — he la ges e en eco ded in he pe iod analysed. The ocus is on
he ela ionship be ween he accumula ed ain all olumes in ups eam
ci ies, such as São Bo ja, I aqui and Ga uchos, and he subsequen ise in
he i e le el in U uguaiana. Such hyd ological connec ions a e
undamen al o unde s anding he beha iou o uno in he basin and
iden i ying pa e ns ha p ecede ex eme e en s (TUCCI, 2008; ANA,
2019).
Assessing he isola ed and combined con ibu ion o hese loca ions allows
o a mo e accu a e unde s anding o he ac o s ha condi ion he ise in
i e le els, se ing as a basis o imp o ing hyd ological moni o ing and
o ecas ing sys ems (BARROS e al., 2020; MANTOVANI e al., 2021). The
analysis o he hyd ological esponse ime — o ime lag — be ween he
occu ence o ups eam ain all and he lood peak in U uguaiana, combined
wi h he in e municipal a iabili y o esponse, is a cen al elemen in
in o ming mo e e ec i e isk managemen s a egies (RIBEIRO, 2015;
DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023).
2. The 2025 loods and he con ibu ion o I aqui
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To illus a e he s ong co ela ion be ween ain all in I aqui and
looding in U uguaiana, i is ins uc i e o analyse he June 2025
lood e en , which ep esen ed he maximum peak obse ed
du ing he analysis pe iod. This case s udy demons a es how
p ecipi a ion in I aqui ac s as a di ec and signi ican p ecu so o
he ise in wa e le els o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana
(Figu e 1).
Figu e 1. Wa e le els and ain all in U uguaiana and I aqui.
In May 2025, I aqui eco ded a signi ican olume o 430.60 mm
o ain all. This alue is conside ably high and indica es a pe iod
o in ense and concen a ed p ecipi a ion in he egion. Gi en
I aqui's loca ion ups eam om U uguaiana, his olume o wa e
con ibu ed di ec ly o he inc ease in low in he U uguay Ri e .
The hyd og aphic basin be ween I aqui and U uguaiana, upon
ecei ing his la ge amoun o wa e , quickly di ec s i o he main
cou se o he i e .
67
As a di ec consequence o his ain all in I aqui, a no able ise in
he le el o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana was obse ed in he
ollowing mon h, June 2025, eaching 751.05 me es. Tempo al
analysis o he da a e eals ha he peak ain all in I aqui
p eceded he peak lood in U uguaiana by a pe iod o
app oxima ely 2 o 3 days. This ime lag is c ucial o he
de elopmen o ea ly wa ning sys ems, as i p o ides a window
o ime o he au ho i ies and he popula ion o U uguaiana o
p epa e o he imminen ise in he i e le el.
This case s udy ein o ces he impo ance o con inuous ain all
moni o ing in I aqui. By iden i ying signi ican ain all olumes in
his loca ion, i is possible o an icipa e wi h g ea e accu acy he
occu ence o loods in U uguaiana, allowing o he
implemen a ion o p e en i e measu es, such as he e acua ion
o isk a eas, he mobilisa ion o escue eams, and he
p epa a ion o empo a y shel e s. The co ela ion obse ed is
no only s a is ical bu also hyd ological, e lec ing he na u al
in e connec ion o i e sys ems and he need o an in eg a ed
app oach o isk managemen in he U uguay Ri e basin.
2.1. Implica ions o Moni o ing and Fo ecas ing in I aqui
The s ong co ela ion be ween ain all in I aqui and looding in
U uguaiana has di ec implica ions o lood moni o ing and
o ecas ing s a egies in he egion. Recognising he I aqu s a key
ups eam moni o ing poin is essen ial o imp o ing he abili y o
an icipa e ex eme e en s in U uguaiana.
68
Fi s , in ensi ying ain all moni o ing in I aqui is a p io i y
measu e. This may in ol e ins alling mo e ain gauges,
upg ading exis ing s a ions wi h eal- ime da a ansmission
echnology, and ensu ing egula main enance o gua an ee he
accu acy and con inui y o eco ds. The mo e de ailed and up- o-
da e he in o ma ion on ain all in I aqui, he mo e eliable he
o ecas s o U uguaiana will be.
Secondly, he de elopmen o speci ic hyd ological models
o he I aqui-U uguaiana sec ion is highly ecommended.
These models can inco po a e ain all da a om I aqui,
opog aphical cha ac e is ics o he i e sec ion, in o ma ion on
land use and occupa ion, and o he hyd ological pa ame e s o
simula e he esponse ime and magni ude o he ele a ion ise
in U uguaiana. Calib a ing and alida ing hese models wi h
his o ical da a would allow o mo e accu a e o ecas s wi h a
lowe ma gin o e o .
Thi dly, he in eg a ion o da a om I aqui in o U uguaiana's
ea ly wa ning sys ems is essen ial. This means ha in o ma ion
on ain all olumes in I aqui mus be au oma ically p ocessed and
used o igge ale s and con ingency plans in U uguaiana. ,
clea and apid communica ion o hese ale s o he popula ion
and local au ho i ies is c ucial o p e en i e measu es o be
aken in ime. This may include issuing newsle e s, ex
messages, social media ale s, and si ens, depending on he
le el o isk.
75
The loca ion o Ga uchos, as he mos ups eam loca ion among
hose analysed, gi es i a s a egic ole in moni o ing and
o ecas ing loods o U uguaiana. The implica ions o isk
managemen a e clea and ein o ce he need o a holis ic
app oach o he U uguay Ri e basin.
Fi s ly, ain all moni o ing in Ga uchos is o pa amoun
impo ance. The accu acy and egula i y o ain all da a in his
loca ion p o ide he i s signs o a po en ial lood e en . The
ins alla ion o addi ional measu emen s a ions and he
mode nisa ion o exis ing ones, wi h eal- ime da a ansmission
capabili ies, a e c ucial o ensu e ha in o ma ion is a ailable as
ea ly as possible. The ea lie a signi ican olume o ain all is
iden i ied in Ga uchos, he mo e ime he e will be o p epa e
downs eam communi ies.
Secondly, he analysis o he ime lag be ween Ga uchos and
U uguaiana mus be con inuously s udied and e ined. Al hough
i is he la ges lag be ween he wo loca ions, i o e s he longes
window o ime o decision-making. Unde s anding he
a ia ions in his lag unde di e en soil and i e low condi ions
is c i ical o op imising ea ly wa ning sys ems. Hyd ological
models ha conside he opog aphy, ege a ion, and soil
abso p ion capaci y along he en i e s e ch be ween Ga uchos
and U uguaiana can imp o e he accu acy o o ecas s.
Thi dly, he in eg a ion o da a om Ga uchos in o he
U uguaiana wa ning sys ems is essen ial. In o ma ion on
ain all olumes in Ga uchos should be au oma ically p ocessed
76
and used o gene a e long- e m ale s, allowing au ho i ies and
he popula ion o begin p epa a ions ea lie . The communica ion
o hese ale s mus be clea , comp ehensi e and dissemina ed
h ough mul iple channels, eaching all po en ially a ec ed
communi ies.
In addi ion, collabo a ion be ween ci il de ence and wa e
esou ce managemen agencies in Ga uchos and
U uguaiana, as well as wi h o he municipali ies in he basin, is
indispensable. Regula in o ma ion exchange, join simula ion
exe cises and he de elopmen o coo dina ed con ingency plans
can s eng hen he capaci y o espond o lood e en s. The
U uguay Ri e basin is an in e connec ed sys em, and e ec i e
lood managemen equi es ongoing coope a ion among all he
municipali ies ha comp ise i , ecognising he ole o each in he
hyd ological dynamics.
Finally, en i onmen al educa ion and aising awa eness
among he popula ion o Ga uchos abou i s impo ance in
he dynamics o downs eam looding can encou age g ea e
pa icipa ion in communi y moni o ing p og ammes and he
adop ion o p ac ices ha con ibu e o lood isk educ ion. By
unde s anding he in e dependence o he basin, communi ies
can become ac i e agen s in building a sa e and mo e esilien
u u e o all who li e along he U uguay Ri e , om i s
headwa e s o i s mou h.
5. Addi ional Case S udies: Va iabili y o Ri e Response
77
Al hough he co ela ion be ween ain all in I aqui and looding in
U uguaiana is obus , i is impo an o analyse addi ional case
s udies ha demons a e he a iabili y o he i e 's esponse.
No all hea y ain all in I aqui will esul in a la ge-scale lood in
U uguaiana, and he magni ude o he lood may be in luenced
by o he ac o s, such as soil sa u a ion in he basin and ain all
in o he loca ions ups eam.
Conside , o example, a hypo he ical scena io in which I aqui
eco ds a signi ican olume o ain all, bu he basin be ween
I aqui and U uguaiana is in a pe iod o p olonged d ough , wi h
d y soil and high abso p ion capaci y. In his case, pa o he
ainwa e may in il a e he soil, educing he olume o su ace
uno and, consequen ly, he impac on he le el o he U uguay
Ri e in U uguaiana. The ime lag may be longe , and he lood
peak, i i occu s, will be less p onounced.
On he o he hand, imagine a scena io in which I aqui eco ds a
mode a e amoun o ain all, bu he basin is al eady sa u a ed by
p e ious ains in São Bo ja and Ga uchos. In his case, e en
less in ense ain all in I aqui can gene a e signi ican su ace
uno , con ibu ing o mo e se e e looding in U uguaiana. This
demons a es he impo ance o he basin's an eceden
condi ion in de e mining he i e 's esponse o ain all.
Ano he ac o o conside is he spa ial dis ibu ion o ain all
wi hin he I aqui sub-basin. Rain all concen a ed in a speci ic
a ea o he sub-basin can ha e a di e en impac han mo e
e enly dis ibu ed ain all, e en i he o al olume is he same.
78
Rain all in ensi y is also c ucial; high-in ensi y ain all o e a sho
pe iod can gene a e as e uno and mo e ab up lood peaks
han lowe -in ensi y, longe -du a ion ain all.
These addi ional case s udies ein o ce he idea ha lood
o ecas ing is a complex p ocess ha equi es conside a ion o
mul iple ac o s. The isola ed analysis o ain all in I aqui,
al hough an excellen indica o , is no su icien o a comple e
o ecas . I is necessa y o in eg a e in o ma ion on soil
sa u a ion, he spa ial and empo al dis ibu ion o ain all, and
he con ibu ion o o he a eas o he basin o ob ain a mo e
accu a e and eliable o ecas . Hyd ological modelling, which will
be discussed in la e chap e s, is an essen ial ool o in eg a ing
all hese ac o s and simula ing he i e 's esponse in di e en
scena ios.
79
Chap e 4 - The Role o Technology in Flood
Moni o ing and P e en ion
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu 1
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an1
Jocema An onio Toso1,2
Diogo Rica do Ma ins Bales a3
Cassiane J ayj de Melo4
1 S uden in he Aquacul u e Enginee ing Cou se, UNIPAMPA; 2 Aquacul u e Technologis ,
UNIPAMPA; 3 Adminis a o , Law S uden , Pos g adua e in En i onmen al Law and MSc
in In e na ional Business, Mus Uni e si y; (4) Ag icul u al Enginee , MSc Geog aphy:
Remo e Sensing; PhD Soil Science, UFSM.
1. In oduc ion
The inco po a ion o ad anced echnologies has p o en o be
undamen al o lood moni o ing and p e en ion, p o iding
echnical and scien i ic suppo o a mo e accu a e
unde s anding o i e dynamics and o he o mula ion o mo e
e ec i e esponses o ex eme e en s (TUCCI, 2008; ANA,
2019). In he U uguay Ri e basin, especially in he municipali y
o U uguaiana, he mode nisa ion o moni o ing ools ep esen s
a p omising pa h o isk mi iga ion and he p o ec ion o li es and
p ope y (MANTOVANI e al., 2021).
Among he mos signi ican ad ances a e he au oma ic and
eleme ic hyd ome eo ological s a ions ope a ed by ins i u ions
such as he Na ional Wa e and Basic Sani a ion Agency (ANA),
which p o ide eal- ime da a on wa e le els, low a es, and
p ecipi a ion. This in o ma ion, ansmi ed ia sa elli e o he
in e ne , is essen ial o issuing ea ly wa nings and suppo ing
eme gency decisions (ANA, 2022).
80
In addi ion, emo e sensing by sa elli es and wea he ada s
con ibu es o a synop ic and con inuous iew o a mosphe ic and
hyd ological beha iou , enabling he moni o ing o la ge-scale
ex eme e en s. This in eg a ion o ield da a and o bi al
in o ma ion enhances hyd ological analyses and imp o es he
accu acy o o ecas s (INPE, 2020; IPCC, 2021).
Ano he on o inno a ion is he use o hyd ological and
hyd aulic models, capable o simula ing uno beha iou and
p edic ing he ad ance o loods based on p ecipi a ion, elie ,
and land use da a. Mo e sophis ica ed models allow o
es ima ing no only he ele a ion o he wa e le el, bu also he
ex en and dep h o looded a eas. The inco po a ion o a i icial
in elligence and machine lea ning algo i hms has imp o ed he
p edic i e capaci y o hese sys ems, wi h an emphasis on
iden i ying complex pa e ns in ime se ies (BARROS e al., 2020;
SOUSA e al., 2022).
Geog aphic In o ma ion Sys ems (GIS), in u n, a e
indispensable ools o he isualisa ion and spa ial analysis o
da a, enabling he mapping o isk a eas, he iden i ica ion o
ulne able in as uc u e, and he planning o e acua ion ou es.
The in eg a ion o hyd ome eo ological, opog aphical, and
socioeconomic a iables in a GIS en i onmen acili a es
s a egic decision-making a c i ical momen s (RIBEIRO, 2015;
ESRI, 2021).
Finally, he dissemina ion o ale s has also bene i ed om
echnological inno a ions. In addi ion o adi ional means, he
use o SMS messages, mobile applica ions, social ne wo ks, and
audible ale sys ems based on use loca ion has signi ican ly
81
expanded he each and e ec i eness o isk communica ion
(DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023). The e ec i eness o hese ac ions
depends, howe e , on clea , accessible communica ion
s a egies adap ed o local eali ies.
2. Communi y Resilience and Adap a ion o Floods
Communi y esilience, in he con ex o loods, e e s o a
communi y's abili y o wi hs and, abso b, adap o and eco e
om a lood e en in an e ec i e and imely manne . I is no jus
a ma e o building mo e obus in as uc u e, bu o
s eng hening social ies, local knowledge and he popula ion's
capaci y o sel -o ganisa ion. In U uguaiana, building communi y
esilience is a undamen al pilla o adap ing o loods and
educing hei impac s.
One o he cen al aspec s o esilience is local knowledge and
memo y o loods. Ri e side communi ies o en ha e aluable
empi ical knowledge abou i e beha iou , he signs o an
impending lood and he mos ulne able a eas. This knowledge,
passed down om gene a ion o gene a ion, mus be alued and
in eg a ed in o isk managemen plans. The c ea ion o
pa icipa o y isk maps, whe e esiden s con ibu e hei
expe iences and obse a ions, can en ich he unde s anding o
local lood dynamics.
Capaci y building and aining o he popula ion a e equally
impo an . En i onmen al educa ion and disas e p epa edness
p og ammes should be implemen ed egula ly, eaching
82
esiden s abou lood isks, sa e e acua ion ou es, shel e poin s
and i s aid measu es. The o ma ion o communi y eme gency
b igades, composed o local olun ee s, can s eng hen he
capaci y o immedia e esponse o a lood e en , assis ing in
e acua ion and suppo o ic ims.
S eng hening social ies and suppo ne wo ks is c ucial o
esilience. Communi ies wi h s ong social cohesion end o
eco e mo e quickly om disas e s, as neighbou s help each
o he , sha e esou ces, and o e emo ional suppo . P omo ing
communi y ac i i ies, c ea ing esiden s' associa ions, and
encou aging olun ee ing can s eng hen hese ne wo ks and
inc ease he capaci y o sel -o ganisa ion in imes o c isis.
Economic di e si ica ion also con ibu es o esilience.
Communi ies ha a e o e ly dependen on a single economic
ac i i y, such as loodplain ag icul u e, a e mo e ulne able o he
impac s o looding. Encou aging o he economic ac i i ies,
p o iding p o essional aining in di e en a eas, and suppo ing
small businesses can educe dependence and inc ease
economic eco e y capaci y a e a lood e en .
Finally, communi y pa icipa ion in planning and decision-
making is essen ial. When esiden s a e in ol ed in de eloping
con ingency plans, se ing p io i ies, and implemen ing solu ions,
hey eel mo e engaged and esponsible o he p ocess. This
ac i e pa icipa ion ensu es ha solu ions a e ailo ed o local
needs and ha plans a e e ec i ely implemen ed. Communi y
esilience is no some hing ha is imposed om he op down,
83
bu is buil collabo a i ely, aluing he knowledge, expe ience,
and o ganisa ional capaci y o he popula ion i sel .
3. Ecosys ems and Biodi e si y o he U uguay Ri e Basin
The U uguay Ri e basin is no only a wa e sys em o g ea
economic and social impo ance, bu also a eposi o y o ich
biodi e si y and complex ecosys ems. The heal h o hese
ecosys ems is undamen al o main aining he en i onmen al
se ices ha he basin p o ides, including wa e cycle egula ion,
wa e pu i ica ion, soil quali y main enance, and he p o ision o
habi a s o a wide ange o lo a and auna species.
Unde s anding and p o ec ing hese ecosys ems is c ucial o he
sus ainable managemen o he basin and o mi iga ing he
impac s o looding.
Along he cou se o he U uguay Ri e and i s ibu a ies, he e
a e se e al ypes o ecosys ems. Ripa ian o es s, o i e side
o es s, a e one o he mos impo an . They ac as ecological
co ido s, connec ing di e en habi a agmen s and allowing he
gene low o species. In addi ion, ipa ian o es s play a i al ole
in p o ec ing i e banks om e osion, il e ing sedimen s and
pollu an s ha could each he wa e , and egula ing wa e
empe a u e, which is essen ial o aqua ic li e. The deg ada ion
o hese o es s, whe he h ough de o es a ion o ag icul u e o
u banisa ion, comp omises he heal h o he i e and inc eases
ulne abili y o loods and d ough s.
84
Floodplains and loodplains a e o he cha ac e is ic
ecosys ems o he basin. These a eas, which a e na u ally
looded du ing lood pe iods, a e ex emely e ile and home o
biodi e si y adap ed o hese lood cycles. They unc ion as
na u al sponges, abso bing excess wa e du ing loods and
eleasing i slowly, which helps mi iga e lood peaks downs eam.
In addi ion, hey a e impo an b eeding and eeding a eas o
a ious species o ish and wa e bi ds. The occupa ion and
d ainage o hese a eas o ag icul u al o u ban pu poses
educes he basin's na u al bu e ing capaci y, in ensi ying he
impac s o looding.
The aqua ic biodi e si y o he U uguay Ri e is ema kable,
wi h a wide a ie y o ish, mollusc and c us acean species. Many
o hese species a e endemic o he basin and play impo an
ecological oles in main aining he balance o he ecosys em.
Floods, al hough dis up i e in he sho e m, a e pa o he
na u al cycle o many aqua ic species, which use hem o
ep oduc ion and dispe sal. Howe e , changes o he na u al
lood egime, pollu ion and he in oduc ion o exo ic species
pose signi ican h ea s o his biodi e si y.
The ields and g asslands ha co e much o he basin also
ha e a unique biodi e si y, adap ed o he clima e and soil
condi ions o he egion. These ecosys ems play a ole in wa e
in il a ion in o he soil and in educing su ace uno , al hough o
a lesse ex en han ipa ian o es s. The con e sion o na i e
ields o monocul u es o deg aded pas u es can al e he wa e
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dis ibu ed, which conside he spa ial a iabili y o he basin's
cha ac e is ics.
The main bene i s o hyd ological modelling o lood o ecas ing
include:
● Ea ly Fo ecas ing: Models can simula e he i e 's
esponse o p edic ed ain all, p o iding ale s hou s o days in
ad ance, depending on he scale o he basin and he a ailabili y
o me eo ological da a. This is c ucial so ha ci il de ence and
he popula ion ha e enough ime o p epa e.
● Scena io Analysis: Models allow di e en ain all
scena ios (e.g., ain all o di e en in ensi ies and du a ions) o
be es ed and hei po en ial impac s on i e le els o be
assessed. This helps o iden i y he mos c i ical scena ios and
plan app op ia e esponses.
● Iden i ica ion o Risk A eas: Hyd aulic models, which
simula e wa e low in i e s and loodplains, can iden i y he
a eas mos suscep ible o looding and he expec ed wa e dep h.
This in o ma ion is i al o isk zoning and u ban planning.
● E alua ion o Mi iga ion Measu es: They can be used o
e alua e he e ec i eness o di e en mi iga ion measu es, such
as he cons uc ion o dams, dykes, o he es o a ion o ipa ian
o es s, be o e hei implemen a ion. This allows o he
op imisa ion o in es men in in as uc u e and na u e-based
solu ions.
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● Be e Unde s anding o P ocesses: The p ocess o
building and calib a ing a hyd ological model deepens
knowledge abou he basin's hyd ological p ocesses, iden i ying
he mos in luen ial ac o s and he in e ac ions be ween hem.
Fo a hyd ological model o be e ec i e, i equi es high-quali y
inpu da a, including p ecipi a ion da a, opog aphy (digi al
ele a ion model), land use and occupa ion, and soil
cha ac e is ics. Model calib a ion, which in ol es adjus ing i s
pa ame e s so ha i accu a ely ep oduces he obse ed
beha iou o he i e , is a c i ical s ep. Valida ion, which es s he
model wi h independen da a, ensu es i s eliabili y.
In he con ex o he U uguay Ri e basin, in eg a ing da a om
ANA s a ions wi h ad anced hyd ological models can c ea e a
mo e obus and accu a e lood o ecas ing sys em. This would
no only allow o p edic ing wa e le el ises, bu also o
es ima ing he a ea and dep h o looding, p o iding mo e
de ailed in o ma ion o eme gency managemen and long- e m
planning. In es men in hyd ological modelling is he e o e a
undamen al s ep owa ds imp o ing U uguaiana's esilience o
looding.
7. De ails o he 2024 Flood E en s
Fo a mo e in-dep h analysis o he esul s, i is essen ial o de ail
he h ee signi ican lood e en s ha occu ed in 2024, as
iden i ied in he o e iew o he da a. Each o hese e en s has
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dis inc cha ac e is ics ha con ibu e o unde s anding he
complex hyd ological dynamics o he U uguay Ri e in
U uguaiana.
7.1. June 2024 Flood: The Fi s Ale o he Yea
The second qua e o 2024 ma ked he i s no able lood e en .
In June 2024, he wa e le el o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana
eached a signi ican peak. This e en was d i en by
conside able ain all in he ups eam s a ions, especially in I aqui
and São Bo ja, which eco ded abo e-a e age p ecipi a ion o
he pe iod. Analysis o he ime lag e ealed ha he ise in wa e
le els in U uguaiana occu ed app oxima ely 2 o 3 days a e he
ain all peaks in hese loca ions. This ela i ely sho esponse
ime highligh s how quickly he i e eac s o ain all in i s uppe
basin.
Al hough local ain all in U uguaiana in June 2024 was no
excep ionally high, soil sa u a ion due o p e ious ains and he
con inuous in low o wa e om ups eam a eas we e
de e mining ac o s in he magni ude o his lood. This e en
se ed as a i s wa ning o he yea , demons a ing he ci y's
ulne abili y and he need o cons an moni o ing . The
consequences included mino looding in lowe i e side a eas
and he need o eloca e some amilies, highligh ing he
impo ance o ea ly wa ning sys ems o mi iga e impac s.
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7.2. Sep embe 2024 Flood: The Pe sis ence o Wa e
The hi d qua e o 2024 was cha ac e ised by a second lood
e en , wi h he i e eaching a new peak in Sep embe 2024.
Unlike he June e en , his lood was ma ked by pe sis en ain all
h oughou he basin, including Ga uchos, São Bo ja, and I aqui.
The accumula ed ain all olumes h oughou Augus and
Sep embe we e subs an ial, keeping he soil sa u a ed and
con ibu ing o con inuous su ace uno .
De ailed analysis showed ha he con ibu ion om Ga uchos,
al hough u he away, was undamen al o he o al olume o
wa e ha eached U uguaiana. The ime lag o Ga uchos was
sligh ly longe (3 o 4 days), bu i s cumula i e con ibu ion, added
o ha o São Bo ja and I aqui, esul ed in a p olonged ise in he
i e le el. This e en demons a ed ha no only ain all peaks,
bu also he du a ion and spa ial dis ibu ion o p ecipi a ion
h oughou he basin, a e c ucial o he o ma ion o loods. The
impac s o his lood we e mo e widesp ead, a ec ing u ban and
u al a eas and equi ing a mo e coo dina ed esponse om ci il
de ence and local au ho i ies.
7.3. No embe 2024 Flood: The Mos Signi ican Peak
The ou h qua e o 2024 saw he hi d and mos signi ican
lood e en o he yea , wi h he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana
eaching i s highes le el in No embe 2024. This peak was he
esul o in ense and concen a ed ain all in all seasons
ups eam, especially in I aqui and São Bo ja, which eco ded
95
excep ionally high ain all olumes. The combina ion o high
in ensi y and wide spa ial dis ibu ion o ain all c ea ed a
scena io o la ge-scale looding.
The co ela ion be ween ain all olumes and ele a ion was mo e
e iden du ing his pe iod, ein o cing he s udy's cen al
hypo hesis. The esponse ime was consis en wi h p e ious
e en s, allowing ea ly wa ning sys ems o unc ion, al hough he
magni ude o he looding exceeded expec a ions in some a eas.
The impac s we e se e e, wi h ex ensi e looding, displacemen
o a la ge numbe o amilies, signi ican damage o ag icul u e
and li es ock, and dis up ion o essen ial se ices. This
No embe 2024 e en se es as a clea example o he need o
con inuous moni o ing and obus isk managemen s a egies o
deal wi h ex eme e en s in he U uguay Ri e basin.
In summa y, he 2024 lood e en s in U uguaiana demons a ed
he complexi y o he hyd ological dynamics o he U uguay Ri e
and he in e connec ion o he en i e basin. De ailed analysis o
each lood peak, conside ing ups eam ain all condi ions and
ime lag, is essen ial o imp o e he abili y o p edic and espond
o u u e e en s, ensu ing he sa e y and esilience o i e side
communi ies.
8. T end and Seasonali y Analysis
In addi ion o analysing speci ic lood e en s, unde s anding he
ends and seasonali y o ain all and wa e le el da a is essen ial
o a comp ehensi e iew o he hyd ological egime o he
96
U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana. Iden i ying ecu ing pa e ns
h oughou he yea and obse ing long- e m ends can assis in
wa e esou ce planning and managemen .
8.1. Rain all Seasonali y
The U uguay Ri e basin, like much o sou he n B azil, has a
well-de ined ain all seasonali y. Gene ally, he sp ing and
summe mon hs (Oc obe o Ma ch) a e cha ac e ised by
highe ain all olumes, o en associa ed wi h con ec i e
sys ems and cold on s ad ancing o e he egion. These
mon hs end o ha e he highes p ecipi a ion olumes, which in
u n con ibu es o ising i e le els.
In con as , he au umn and win e mon hs (Ap il o
Sep embe ) end o ha e lowe ain all olumes, al hough
isola ed e en s o in ense p ecipi a ion may occu . Howe e ,
analysis o da a om 2024 e ealed ha e en in pe iods o lowe
a e age ain all, he occu ence o ain all concen a ed in sho
pe iods o he pe sis ence o ainy sys ems can gene a e
signi ican looding, as obse ed in June and Sep embe . This
indica es ha seasonali y, al hough a guide, is no he only ac o
o be conside ed; he in ensi y and empo al dis ibu ion o ain all
a e equally impo an .
8.2. Seasonali y o Ri e Le els
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The seasonali y o he U uguay Ri e le els in U uguaiana
la gely ollows he seasonali y o ain all in he basin. Ri e le els
end o be highe in he mon hs wi h he highes p ecipi a ion and
dec ease du ing d y pe iods. Howe e , he ime lag be ween
ain all and he i e 's esponse means ha peak wa e le els
may occu wi h a delay in ela ion o peak p ecipi a ion.
I has been obse ed ha , a e he mon hs o lowes wa e le els
(such as Ma ch 2025, wi h 171.79 m), he i e begins o eco e
wi h inc eased ain all, culmina ing in lood peaks. This dynamic
o
ise and all in i e le els is a na u al cycle, bu i can be
in ensi ied by ac o s such as clima e change and changes in
land use in he basin.
8.3. Long-Te m T ends
Al hough he pe iod analysed in his s udy is limi ed o one yea ,
he analysis o long- e m ends is c ucial o unde s anding
changes in he hyd ological egime o he U uguay Ri e .
Clima ological and hyd ological s udies o sou he n B azil ha e
poin ed o a end o inc easing equency and in ensi y o
ex eme p ecipi a ion e en s. This means ha , in he u u e,
loods may become mo e equen and mo e se e e, and pe iods
o d ough mo e p olonged.
This end owa ds mo e in ense ex eme e en s is la gely
a ibu ed o global clima e change. The inc ease in he plane 's
98
a e age empe a u e leads o g ea e e apo a ion o wa e om
oceans and wa e bodies, esul ing in an a mosphe e wi h a
g ea e capaci y o e ain mois u e. When his mois u e
condenses, i can gene a e mo e in ense and concen a ed
ain all. In addi ion, phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña,
which in luence ain all pa e ns in Sou h Ame ica, may ha e
hei equency and in ensi y al e ed by clima e change, di ec ly
impac ing he U uguay Ri e basin.
The analysis o long- e m ends equi es he use o his o ical
da a se ies spanning se e al decades, which was no he main
ocus o his s udy. Howe e , awa eness o hese ends is
essen ial o long- e m planning and he implemen a ion o
adap a ion and mi iga ion measu es aimed a inc easing he
esilience o he ci y o U uguaiana and i e side communi ies.
This includes in es men s in d ainage in as uc u e, p o ec ion
o loodplain a eas, es o a ion o ipa ian o es s, and he
de elopmen o mo e obus ea ly wa ning sys ems adap ed o a
scena io o mo e equen ex eme e en s.
In sho , he analysis o ends and seasonali y in ain all and
wa e le el da a p o ides an impo an con ex o unde s anding
lood e en s. The U uguay Ri e basin has clea seasonali y, bu
long- e m ends, in luenced by clima e change, indica e he
need o p oac i e and adap i e planning o add ess u u e
challenges posed by he i e 's hyd ological egime.
99
9. The Role o Dams and Rese oi s in Flood Regula ion
The U uguay Ri e basin, like o he la ge B azilian basins, has a
se ies o dams and ese oi s along i s main cou se and a ious
ibu a ies o mul iple uses, such as powe gene a ion, wa e
supply, and lood con ol (ANA, 2019; BRAZIL, 2016). The
ope a ion o hese s uc u es di ec ly in e e es wi h he
hyd ological dynamics downs eam, in luencing he beha iou o
loods in ulne able a eas, such as U uguaiana. Unde s anding
he ole o hese p ojec s is essen ial o he in eg a ed and
e icien managemen o he basin's wa e esou ces
(MANTOVANI e al., 2021).
When ope a ed wi h a ocus on low egula ion, dams can ac as
na u al bu e s, e aining a signi ican po ion o he excess
olume du ing episodes o in ense p ecipi a ion and hus
a enua ing he peak low downs eam (TUCCI, 2008; BARROS
e al., 2020). This unc ion is especially ele an in concen a ed
ain all e en s, in which su ace uno ends o be apid and
in ense.
Howe e , managing hese s uc u es is challenging, gi en ha
mul iple ope a ional objec i es—especially ene gy p oduc ion—
can compe e wi h he lood con ol unc ion. Main aining high
ese oi le els o maximise ene gy gene a ion, o example, can
educe he capaci y o abso b addi ional olumes du ing c i ical
pe iods (RIBEIRO, 2015). In addi ion, uncoo dina ed wa e
eleases, especially in sync wi h local p ecipi a ion peaks, can
in ensi y downs eam impac s (DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023).
100
, in eg a ion be ween plan ope a o s, managemen bodies such
as he Na ional Wa e and Basic Sani a ion Agency (ANA), and
s a e and municipal ci il de ence agencies is he e o e essen ial.
The exchange o eal- ime da a on ese oi le els, lows, and
wea he o ecas s allows o mo e esponsi e and s a egic
ope a ion, educing he isks associa ed wi h looding (ANA,
2022; MOTA e al., 2019). In his con ex , ope a ing plans ha
inco po a e wa e sa e y c i e ia and clea wa e elease
p o ocols a e indispensable.
T anspa ency in he managemen and communica ion p ocess is
equally impo an . Ri e side popula ions mus ha e access o
clea and up- o-da e in o ma ion on ese oi le els and o ecas
scena ios in o de o p epa e adequa ely. Ci il socie y
pa icipa ion in basin commi ees and decision-making
p ocesses s eng hens go e nance and con ibu es o he
de elopmen o mo e equi able and sus ainable solu ions
(MARANDOLA JR. & HOGAN, 2014; ANA, 2021).
In summa y, dams and ese oi s a e s a egic ools o lood
mi iga ion in he U uguay Ri e basin. Howe e , hei
e ec i eness depends on coo dina ed, anspa en ope a ion
guided by he p o ec ion o he downs eam popula ion.
In eg a ing hese p ojec s in o ea ly wa ning sys ems and
con ingency plans is essen ial o inc ease esilience o ex eme
hyd ological e en s.
10. The Impac o U banisa ion and Land Use on Flood
Dynamics
107
Poli ical challenges can a ise om a lack o poli ical will, he
discon inui y o p ojec s due o managemen changes, and
p essu e o sho - e m solu ions a he expense o long- e m
s a egies. Flood managemen o en in ol es unpopula
decisions, such as es ic ing occupa ion in isk a eas o
eloca ing amilies, which can gene a e poli ical and social
esis ance. The pe cep ion ha p e en ion is less isible han
disas e esponse can also di e ocus and esou ces o
eme gency ac ions.
Finally, social challenges include a lack o public awa eness o
he isks, esis ance o changing habi s, and mis us o
go e nmen ac ions. The i egula occupa ion o isk a eas, o en
ly by low-income popula ions who ha e no o he housing op ions,
is a complex social p oblem ha equi es in eg a ed solu ions
combining u ban planning, housing policies, and social
assis ance p og ammes. En i onmen al educa ion and
communi y engagemen a e essen ial o o e coming hese
challenges and building a cul u e o p e en ion and esilience.
O e coming hese challenges equi es a join and coo dina ed
e o by all s akeholde s. Policy in eg a ion, ins i u ional
s eng hening, con inued in es men in esea ch and echnology,
p o essional aining, and he p omo ion o social pa icipa ion
a e essen ial s eps o make lood managemen policies mo e
e ec i e and con ibu e o he sa e y and well-being o
communi ies along he U uguay Ri e .
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13. Impac s on Public Heal h and he En i onmen
In addi ion o he di ec impac s on he popula ion, ag icul u e,
and in as uc u e, looding o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana
also has signi ican consequences o public heal h and he
en i onmen . These impac s, o en long- e m, equi e a en ion
and speci ic s a egies o mi iga ion and p e en ion.
In e ms o public heal h, looding c ea es an en i onmen
conduci e o he sp ead o disease. The con amina ion o
d inking wa e by sewage and deb is, he accumula ion o was e
and he p esence o enomous animals and disease ec o s
(such as mosqui oes and oden s) inc ease he isk o ou b eaks
o in ec ious diseases such as lep ospi osis, dia hoea, hepa i is
A and dengue e e . The dis up ion o basic sani a ion se ices,
such as ea ed wa e supply and sewage collec ion, u he
agg a a es he si ua ion. In addi ion, pos - auma ic s ess,
anxie y, and dep ession a e common men al heal h p oblems
among a ec ed popula ions, equi ing psychosocial suppo and
accessible men al heal h se ices.
The en i onmen al impac s o looding a e also conside able.
Soil and i e bank e osion, sil ing o wa e cou ses, and
con amina ion by solid and liquid was e a e ecu ing p oblems.
Flooding o ag icul u al a eas can lead o he leaching o
pes icides and e ilise s in o i e s, comp omising wa e quali y
and a ec ing aqua ic biodi e si y. The des uc ion o ipa ian
o es s and o he i e side ecosys ems, which ac as na u al
il e s and p o ec i e ba ie s, inc eases he ulne abili y o he
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basin o u u e ex eme e en s. The eco e y o hese
ecosys ems is a slow and complex p ocess ha equi es
in es men and en i onmen al es o a ion ac ions.
Ano he impo an aspec is he imp ope disposal o was e
du ing and a e loods. The olume o ubbish and deb is
gene a ed by loods is immense, and i s inco ec disposal can
con amina e he soil and wa e , as well as c ea e sou ces o
disease. Was e managemen in eme gency si ua ions is a
logis ical and en i onmen al challenge ha needs o be planned
and execu ed e icien ly, wi h he pa icipa ion o he communi y
and he suppo o public and p i a e agencies.
Floods can also a ec local wildli e, displacing animals om
hei na u al habi a s and inc easing he isk o con ac wi h he
human popula ion. The p esence o enomous animals, such as
snakes and sco pions, in looded u ban a eas is an addi ional
conce n o people's sa e y. P o ec ing wildli e and minimising
impac s on biodi e si y a e impo an aspec s o pos - lood
en i onmen al managemen .
In sho , he impac s o loods on public heal h and he
en i onmen a e in e linked and highly complex. P e en ing and
mi iga ing hese impac s equi es an in eg a ed app oach ha
combines heal h, sani a ion, en i onmen al managemen , and
educa ion ac ions. In es men in sani a ion in as uc u e,
p omo ion o sus ainable ag icul u al p ac ices, p o ec ion and
es o a ion o ecosys ems, and aising public awa eness o he
isks a e essen ial measu es o building a heal hie and mo e
110
esilien U uguaiana in he ace o he challenges posed by he
looding o he U uguay Ri e .
14. Economic Cos s o Reco e y and Recons uc ion
The economic cos s associa ed wi h eco e y and econs uc ion
a e looding e en s a e eno mous and ep esen a signi ican
bu den on public and p i a e budge s. y quan i ica ion o hese
cos s is essen ial o long- e m planning, esou ce alloca ion, and
jus i ica ion o in es men s in p e en i e measu es. In
U uguaiana, wi h each lood, he ci y and i s inhabi an s ace a
complex inancial equa ion o ebuild.
Di ec cos s include expenses ela ed o he immedia e
eme gency esponse, such as mobilising escue eams and
p o iding empo a y shel e s, ood, wa e , and medicine o
ic ims. The econs uc ion o homes, he epai o damaged
in as uc u e ( oads, b idges, powe and sani a ion ne wo ks)
and he cleaning o a ec ed a eas also ep esen conside able
di ec expenses. Fo ag icul u e and li es ock, di ec cos s
in ol e eplacing los c ops and he ds, eco e ing soil and
ebuilding u al acili ies.
Indi ec cos s a e mo e di icul o quan i y, bu equally
signi ican . They include he loss o economic p oduc i i y due o
he in e up ion o comme cial and indus ial ac i i ies, he
decline in ou ism, job losses, and educed ax e enues. The
impac on public heal h, wi h an inc ease in disease and he need
o ea men , also gene a es indi ec cos s o he heal h sys em.
111
In addi ion, he social and psychological cos o a ec ed amilies,
al hough in angible, has a p o ound impac on he quali y o li e
and esilience o he communi y.
Long- e m eco e y equi es in es men s in mo e esilien
in as uc u e, such as imp o ed d ainage sys ems, dykes and
dams, and he es o a ion o na u al ecosys ems. These
in es men s, al hough expensi e, a e c ucial o educing
ulne abili y o u u e e en s and a oiding e en g ea e cos s in
he u u e. A cos -bene i analysis o p e en i e measu es e sus
eco e y cos s shows ha in es ing in p e en ion is, in he long
un, he mos economical and sus ainable op ion.
Financing eco e y is a complex challenge. Municipali ies o en
depend on ede al and s a e esou ces, which can be slow o
elease and a e no always su icien o co e all needs. The lack
o lood insu ance o mos p ope ies and economic ac i i ies
exace ba es he si ua ion, lea ing amilies and businesses
unp o ec ed. C ea ing disas e unds, p omo ing a o dable
insu ance, and seeking in e na ional sou ces o inancing can be
s a egies o ensu e he a ailabili y o esou ces o eco e y.
In addi ion o he inancial cos s, he e is he oppo uni y cos .
The esou ces ha a e di e ed o disas e eco e y could be
in es ed in o he a eas, such as educa ion, heal h, o economic
de elopmen , which could gene a e long- e m bene i s o he
communi y. This ein o ces he impo ance o p io i ising isk
p e en ion and mi iga ion, ans o ming disas e cos s in o
in es men s in esilience.
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In conclusion, he economic cos s o eco e y and econs uc ion
a e loods a e mul i ace ed and ep esen a hea y bu den o
U uguaiana. Unde s anding hese cos s, bo h di ec and indi ec ,
is essen ial o he de elopmen o public policies ha p io i ise
p e en ion, in es men in esilien in as uc u e and he c ea ion
o inancing mechanisms ha ensu e he ci y's esilience in he
ace o he challenges posed by he U uguay Ri e .
15. Ecosys em-Based Adap a ion (EBA) as a S a egy o he
Fu u e
In he ace o g owing unce ain ies and challenges posed by
clima e change, Ecosys em-based Adap a ion (EbA) eme ges as
a p omising and cos -e ec i e s a egy o lood managemen
and esilience building in i e basins such as he U uguay Ri e .
EBA in ol es he use o biodi e si y and ecosys em se ices as
pa o an o e all adap a ion s a egy o help people adap o he
ad e se impac s o clima e change. Ra he han elying solely on
adi ional enginee ing solu ions
(such as dykes and dams), EoB in eg a es na u e-based
solu ions ha o e mul iple bene i s.
The main p inciples o NBS include:
● Ecosys em Res o a ion: Res o ing ipa ian o es s,
we lands, and o he i e ine ecosys ems is one o he key
s a egies o AbE. These ecosys ems ac as na u al sponges,
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abso bing excess wa e du ing loods, educing su ace uno
eloci y, and il e ing sedimen s and pollu an s. Res o ing hese
ecosys ems no only helps mi iga e looding, bu also imp o es
wa e quali y, inc eases biodi e si y, and seques e s ca bon.
● Sus ainable Soil Managemen : P omo ing sus ainable
ag icul u al p ac ices, such as no- ill a ming, c op o a ion, and
c op-li es ock- o es in eg a ion, con ibu es o soil heal h and
educes su ace uno . Heal hy soils ha e g ea e wa e
in il a ion and e en ion capaci y, which helps o educe he
olume o wa e eaching i e s du ing ain all.
● G een In as uc u e: The implemen a ion o g een
in as uc u e in u ban a eas, such as loodable pa ks, g een
oo s, ain ga dens, and pe meable pa emen s, is ano he EaB
s a egy. These solu ions help manage ainwa e a he sou ce,
educing he o e load on d ainage sys ems and he isk o u ban
looding. In addi ion, g een in as uc u e imp o es ai quali y,
educes hea islands, and c ea es ec ea ional spaces o he
communi y.
● Biodi e si y Conse a ion: P o ec ing biodi e si y and
na u al habi a s is c i ical o he esilience o ecosys ems and he
main enance o he se ices hey p o ide. The c ea ion o
p o ec ed a eas, ecological co ido s, and he implemen a ion o
conse a ion policies a e essen ial o ensu ing he long- e m
heal h o he basin.
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The bene i s o NBS a e mani old and go beyond lood
managemen . They p omo e wa e secu i y, ood secu i y,
biodi e si y conse a ion, and sus ainable economic
de elopmen . In addi ion, na u e-based solu ions a e o en
cheape and mo e esilien in he long e m han adi ional
enginee ing solu ions.
In he con ex o he U uguay Ri e basin, he implemen a ion o
NBS s a egies can be a p omising way o add ess he
challenges o clima e change and build a mo e secu e and
sus ainable u u e. This equi es a pa adigm shi in he way we
plan and manage he e i o y, in eg a ing na u e conse a ion
wi h social and economic de elopmen . Collabo a ion be ween
go e nmen s, he p i a e sec o , ci il socie y, and local
communi ies is essen ial o he success o EoB and o building
a mo e esilien basin o u u e gene a ions.
16. The Role o In e na ional Coope a ion in T ansbounda y
Basin Managemen
The U uguay Ri e basin, like o he la ge B azilian basins, has a
se ies o dams and ese oi s along i s main cou se and a ious
ibu a ies o mul iple uses, such as powe gene a ion, wa e
supply, and lood con ol (ANA, 2019; BRAZIL, 2016). The
ope a ion o hese s uc u es di ec ly in e e es wi h he
hyd ological dynamics downs eam, in luencing he beha iou o
loods in ulne able a eas, such as U uguaiana. Unde s anding
he ole o hese p ojec s is essen ial o he in eg a ed and
115
e icien managemen o he basin's wa e esou ces
(MANTOVANI e al., 2021).
When ope a ed wi h a ocus on low egula ion, dams can ac as
na u al bu e s, e aining a signi ican po ion o he excess
olume du ing episodes o in ense p ecipi a ion and hus
mi iga ing he peak low downs eam (TUCCI, 2008; BARROS e
al., 2020). This unc ion is especially ele an in concen a ed
ain all e en s, in which su ace uno ends o be apid and
in ense.
Howe e , managing hese s uc u es is challenging, gi en ha
mul iple ope a ional objec i es—especially ene gy p oduc ion—
can compe e wi h he lood con ol unc ion. Main aining high
ese oi le els o maximise ene gy gene a ion, o example, can
educe he capaci y o abso b addi ional olumes du ing c i ical
pe iods (RIBEIRO, 2015). In addi ion, uncoo dina ed wa e
eleases, especially in sync wi h local p ecipi a ion peaks, can
in ensi y downs eam impac s (DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023).
, in eg a ion be ween plan ope a o s, managemen bodies such
as he Na ional Wa e and Basic Sani a ion Agency (ANA), and
s a e and municipal ci il de ence agencies is he e o e essen ial.
The exchange o eal- ime da a on ese oi le els, lows, and
wea he o ecas s allows o mo e esponsi e and s a egic
ope a ion, educing he isks associa ed wi h looding (ANA,
2022; MOTA e al., 2019). In his con ex , ope a ing plans ha
inco po a e wa e sa e y c i e ia and clea wa e elease
p o ocols a e indispensable.
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T anspa ency in he managemen and communica ion p ocess is
equally impo an . Ri e side popula ions mus ha e access o
clea and up- o-da e in o ma ion on ese oi le els and o ecas
scena ios in o de o p epa e adequa ely. Ci il socie y
pa icipa ion in basin commi ees and decision-making
p ocesses s eng hens go e nance and con ibu es o he
de elopmen o mo e equi able and sus ainable solu ions
(MARANDOLA JR. & HOGAN, 2014; ANA, 2021).
In summa y, dams and ese oi s a e s a egic ools o lood
mi iga ion in he U uguay Ri e basin. Howe e , hei
e ec i eness depends on coo dina ed, anspa en ope a ion
guided by he p o ec ion o he downs eam popula ion.
In eg a ing hese p ojec s in o ea ly wa ning sys ems and
con ingency plans is essen ial o inc ease esilience o ex eme
hyd ological e en s.
17. The Impo ance o Educa ion and Awa eness o
Resilience
Educa ion and awa eness- aising among he popula ion a e
s a egic pilla s in building esilience o he hyd ological isks
associa ed wi h looding o he U uguay Ri e . Mo e han jus
ha ing wa ning sys ems and p o ec i e in as uc u e in place, i
is essen ial ha he local communi y be in o med, mobilised, and
p epa ed o ac au onomously and sa ely in eme gency si ua ions
(RIBEIRO, 2015; MARANDOLA JR. & HOGAN, 2014).
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holis ic app oach can lead o agmen ed and ine ec i e
solu ions ha ans e p oblems a he han sol e hem.
The dynamics o looding in U uguaiana a e a es amen o his
in e connec ion. As demons a ed in his book, ain all in
municipali ies hund eds o kilome es ups eam, such as
Ga uchos, São Bo ja and I aqui, di ec ly in luences he i e
le el in U uguaiana. This means ha wa e managemen , land
use and ag icul u al p ac ices in one pa o he basin di ec ly
a ec communi ies downs eam. Fo example, de o es a ion o
ipa ian o es s in uppe a eas o he basin can inc ease su ace
uno and e osion, con ibu ing o i e sil a ion and in ensi ied
looding in U uguaiana.
In eg a ed i e basin managemen in ol es coo dina ion
be ween di e en le els o go e nmen ( ede al, s a e,
municipal), a ious wa e use sec o s (ag icul u e, indus y,
sani a ion, ene gy), ci il socie y, and esea ch ins i u ions. This
app oach seeks o econcile he mul iple uses o wa e , p o ec
aqua ic and e es ial ecosys ems, and manage he isks o
ex eme e en s such as loods and d ough s. The c ea ion o
i e basin commi ees, which b ing oge he ep esen a i es o
all hese ac o s, is a undamen al ool o p omo ing his
pa icipa o y and in eg a ed managemen .
In he ansbounda y con ex o he U uguay Ri e basin,
in e na ional coope a ion is equally c ucial. Ag eemen s and
collabo a ion mechanisms be ween B azil, A gen ina, and
U uguay a e essen ial o sha ing hyd ome eo ological da a,
124
coo dina ing dam ope a ions, de eloping join ea ly wa ning
sys ems, and implemen ing isk managemen p ojec s. Lack o
coo dina ion be ween coun ies can comp omise he
e ec i eness o disas e p e en ion and esponse measu es,
especially in la ge-scale e en s ha a ec he en i e basin.
In sho , he in e connec ion o he U uguay Ri e basin equi es
a pa adigm shi in he way wa e esou ces a e managed .
F agmen ed and sec o al managemen is no longe sus ainable
in he ace o he challenges posed by clima e change and
inc easing p essu e on wa e esou ces. Adop ing an in eg a ed
app oach, which conside s he basin as a single sys em and
p omo es collabo a ion among all ac o s, is he way o ensu e
wa e secu i y, en i onmen al p o ec ion, and sus ainable
de elopmen o he communi ies along he U uguay Ri e .
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Chap e 5 - P ac ical Ac ions o he Communi y and
Indi iduals
Ana Helena de Souza Siga an1
Suelen Po i a Cha es Yosu 1
Jocema An onio Toso1,2
Diogo Rica do Ma ins Bales a3
Cassiane J ayj de Melo4
1 S uden in he Aquacul u e Enginee ing Cou se, UNIPAMPA; 2 Aquacul u e Technologis ,
UNIPAMPA; 3 Adminis a o , Law S uden , Pos g adua e in En i onmen al Law and MSc
in In e na ional Business, Mus Uni e si y; (4) Ag icul u al Enginee , MSc Geog aphy:
Remo e Sensing; PhD Soil Science, UFSM.
1. In oduc ion
Al hough public policies and in es men s in in as uc u e play a
cen al ole in disas e mi iga ion, i is a he local le el ha a
signi ican pa o lood esilience is consolida ed. The ac ions o
he communi y and indi iduals a e essen ial o complemen
ins i u ional s a egies and s eng hen esponse and eco e y
capaci y in he ace o ex eme e en s (RIBEIRO, 2015;
MARANDOLA JR. & HOGAN, 2014). Awa eness and
p epa edness a he amily and communi y le el cons i u e he
i s line o de ence agains he impac s o looding, p omo ing a
cul u e o sel -p o ec ion and ulne abili y educ ion (BRAZIL,
2016; DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023).
One o he mos impo an ac ions is o de elop a amily
eme gency plan. This plan should include:
● E acua ion Rou es: Iden i y he sa es ou es o lea e
you home and neighbou hood in case o looding, and p ac ise
hem egula ly.
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● Mee ing Poin s: De ine a sa e place ou side he isk a ea
whe e he amily can mee i hey become sepa a ed du ing he
e acua ion.
● Eme gency Ki : P epa e a backpack wi h essen ial i ems
such as d inking wa e , non-pe ishable ood, medicines, a o ch,
a ba e y-powe ed adio, impo an documen s (in wa e p oo
plas ic bags), a i s aid ki , clo hing and pe sonal hygiene i ems.
This ki should be easily accessible and e iewed pe iodically.
● Eme gency Con ac s: Ha e a lis o use ul elephone
numbe s, including ci il de ence, i e b igade, hospi als and
con ac s o amily and iends.
● Pe Ca e: Include pe s in you e acua ion plan, ensu ing
ha hey also ha e a sa e place and supplies.
Ano he key ac ion is o p o ec you belongings and
documen s. In a eas a isk, i is ad isable o aise u ni u e and
appliances, i possible, and s o e impo an documen s in high,
wa e p oo loca ions. Scanning documen s and s o ing hem in
he cloud a e also e ec i e p e en i e measu es.
Pa icipa ion in educa ion and simula ion p og ammes
p omo ed by ci il de ence o o he o ganisa ions is highly
ecommended. These p og ammes o e aluable in o ma ion
and p ac ical aining ha can make a di e ence in an eme gency
si ua ion. Knowledge o wa ning signs, such as ising i e le els
o o ecas s o hea y ain, allows people o make in o med
decisions and ac in ad ance.
127
Main aining homes and land also con ibu es o isk educ ion.
Cleaning gu e s and d ains, a oiding li e ing in s eams and
i e s, and main aining ege a ion in ipa ian a eas can help
imp o e wa e uno and educe he isk o localised looding. In
u al a eas, adop ing sus ainable ag icul u al p ac ices ha
minimise soil e osion and p omo e wa e in il a ion is equally
impo an .
Finally, solida i y and mu ual aid a e essen ial in imes o c isis.
Ge ing o know neighbou s, especially he elde ly o people wi h
educed mobili y, and o e ing help when needed s eng hens
communi y ies and imp o es collec i e esponse capaci y.
C ea ing local suppo ne wo ks can make a di e ence in pos -
lood eco e y.
By adop ing hese p ac ical ac ions, indi iduals and communi ies
can signi ican ly inc ease hei esilience o looding, minimising
impac s and speeding up he eco e y p ocess. P e en ion is an
ongoing e o ha equi es e e yone's pa icipa ion.
2. The Role o Ci il Socie y and Non-Go e nmen al
O ganisa ions (NGOs)
O ganised ci il socie y and non-go e nmen al o ganisa ions
(NGOs) play an essen ial ole ha complemen s go e nmen
ac ions in lood managemen and he p omo ion o communi y
esilience. Thei decen alised ac ion, which is close o
ulne able popula ions, allows hem o ill ins i u ional gaps,
128
inc easing he e ec i eness o disas e p e en ion, esponse and
eco e y s a egies (RIBEIRO, 2015; BRAZIL, 2016).
One o he main con ibu ions o NGOs lies in social mobilisa ion
and communi y empowe men . Wo kshops, aining cou ses,
educa ional campaigns and amily eme gency plans help o
s eng hen communi y o ganisa ion and he au onomy o
popula ions exposed o hyd ological isks (MARANDOLA JR. &
HOGAN, 2014). The c ea ion o eme gency b igades and he
aining o local leade s a e examples o ac ions made possible
by hese ins i u ions, adap ed o speci ic socio- e i o ial eali ies
(ANA, 2019).
NGOs also collec , analyse and dissemina e in o ma ion. In
many cases, hey ca y ou local moni o ing o i e s and
p ecipi a ion, complemen ing da a om o icial ne wo ks. In
addi ion, hey unc ion as impo an ec o s o communica ion
be ween public au ho i ies and communi ies, ansla ing
echnical ale s in o accessible language and using in o mal
channels such as social ne wo ks, communi y adio s a ions and
ins an messaging g oups (DEFESA CIVIL RS, 2023). In c isis
si ua ions, e i ying in o ma ion and comba ing misin o ma ion
a e c ucial unc ions in p e en ing panic o negligence in he ace
o isk.
Du ing disas e esponse, NGOs o en posi ion hemsel es as
he i s en i ies o o e eme gency assis ance. The dis ibu ion
o ood, d inking wa e , hygiene i ems, clo hing, empo a y
shel e , and psychosocial suppo a e ou ine ac i i ies ca ied
ou wi h agili y and a ocus on he immedia e needs o he
a ec ed popula ions (BARROS e al., 2020).
129
In he pos -disas e pe iod, hese o ganisa ions also collabo a e
in he econs uc ion o housing, economic ehabili a ion, and he
esump ion o communi y li e, including p olonged psychological
suppo . Addi ionally, hey play a undamen al ole in de ending
he igh s o ic ims, ensu ing hei pa icipa ion in decision-
making p ocesses and access o aid p o ided by he s a e
(MOTA e al., 2019).
NGOs also ac s a egically in poli ical ad ocacy, demanding
g ea e anspa ency, social pa icipa ion, and in es men in
public policies aimed a disas e p e en ion and he sus ainable
use o wa e esou ces om go e nmen s (IPCC, 2021; ANA,
2021). By documen ing impac s, collec ing da a and aising
awa eness o he demands o a ec ed popula ions, hese
o ganisa ions b oaden he scope o he socio-en i onmen al
agenda and push o s uc u al changes in land and wa e
managemen .
In sho , NGOs and ci il socie y collec i es a e indispensable
ac o s in building a U uguaiana ha is mo e esilien o looding.
Thei capaci y o mobilisa ion, hei local ac ion and hei
echnical and social expe ise quali y hem as s a egic pa ne s
o mo e democ a ic, inclusi e and e ec i e isk managemen .
The ins i u ional s eng hening o hese o ganisa ions and he
o mal ecogni ion o hei ole should be p io i ies o he
go e nance o he U uguay Ri e basin.
3. The Challenge o Financial Sus ainabili y in Flood
Managemen
130
Flood managemen , in all i s phases – p e en ion, mi iga ion,
esponse and eco e y – equi es signi ican and con inuous
inancial in es men . Howe e , he inancial sus ainabili y o
hese ac ions is a pe sis en challenge, especially in de eloping
coun ies and municipali ies wi h limi ed budge s. The absence
o a s able and p edic able low o esou ces can comp omise he
e ec i eness o policies and he abili y o espond o ex eme
e en s. O e coming his challenge equi es he sea ch o
di e si ied sou ces o inancing and he implemen a ion o
inno a i e inancial mechanisms.
One o he main sou ces o unding o lood managemen is
public budge s ( ede al, s a e, and municipal). Howe e , hese
budge s a e o en limi ed and subjec o economic luc ua ions
and poli ical p io i ies. The alloca ion o esou ces o disas e
p e en ion and mi iga ion o en compe es wi h o he u gen
demands, such as heal h, educa ion, and secu i y, which can
lead o unde in es men in long- e m p e en i e measu es. The
c ea ion o speci ic unds o disas e isk managemen , wi h
dedica ed and p o ec ed sou ces o e enue, can ensu e he
necessa y inancial s abili y.
The p i a e sec o can also play an impo an ole in inancing
lood managemen . Companies ope a ing in isk a eas o
dependen on he basin's wa e esou ces can be encou aged o
in es in p e en ion and mi iga ion measu es, such as he
cons uc ion o p o ec i e in as uc u e, he es o a ion o
ecosys ems, and he implemen a ion o sus ainable p ac ices.
Mechanisms such as paymen o en i onmen al se ices (PES),
131
whe e wa e use s compensa e landowne s who conse e wa e
echa ge a eas o ipa ian o es s, can gene a e esou ces o
basin managemen .
The insu ance ma ke is ano he inancial ool ha can
con ibu e o esilience. P omo ing lood insu ance, bo h o
p ope ies and economic ac i i ies, can help dis ibu e isk and
ensu e he inancial eco e y o ic ims. Howe e , he low
pene a ion o such insu ance, especially in a eas o g ea e
ulne abili y, is a challenge. Public policies ha encou age he
pu chase o insu ance, such as subsidies o awa eness
p og ammes, can inc ease up ake.
In addi ion, seeking in e na ional inancing is an impo an
s a egy, especially o la ge-scale p ojec s o o coun ies wi h
lowe in es men capaci y. De elopmen banks, in e na ional
coope a ion agencies, and clima e unds o e c edi lines and
g an s o clima e change adap a ion and disas e isk educ ion
p ojec s. The abili y o de elop well-s uc u ed p ojec s and
demons a e socio-economic and en i onmen al bene i s is
c ucial o a ac ing hese esou ces.
Cos -bene i analysis is an essen ial ool o jus i ying
in es men s in p e en ion. S udies ha e shown ha e e y dolla
in es ed in p e en ion can sa e mul iple dolla s in eco e y and
econs uc ion cos s. Howe e , quan i ying hese bene i s,
especially in angible ones (such as li es sa ed and educed
human su e ing), is challenging. E ec i e communica ion o
132
hese bene i s o decision-make s and socie y is key o secu ing
suppo o in es men s in p e en ion.
Finally, inno a ion in inancial mechanisms is c ucial. This
includes he c ea ion o g een bonds, impac in es men unds,
and public-p i a e pa ne ships ha can le e age esou ces o
lood managemen . Combining di e en sou ces o inancing and
c ea ing sus ainable inancial models a e essen ial o ensu e ha
communi ies and h s o he U uguay Ri e basin a e p epa ed o
ace he u u e challenges posed by looding.
4. The Role o Go e nance and T anspa ency in Flood
Managemen
Go e nance and anspa ency a e undamen al pilla s o he
e ec i eness, legi imacy, and sus ainabili y o lood
managemen . E ec i e go e nance equi es consolida ed
ins i u ions, well-de ined egula o y amewo ks, pa icipa o y
decision-making p ocesses, and clea mechanisms o
accoun abili y and social con ol (BRAZIL, 2016; MARANDOLA
JR. & HOGAN, 2014).
T anspa ency, in u n, ensu es public access o in o ma ion on
dam ope a ions, con ingency plans and wa ning sys ems,
s eng hening us be ween go e nmen and socie y and
encou aging communi y engagemen in p e en ion and
esponse ac ions (ANA, 2019; RIBEIRO, 2015).
The absence o hese elemen s comp omises he e iciency o
ac ions, opens he doo o inapp op ia e managemen p ac ices,
139
acili a e access o and use o hyd ome eo ological in o ma ion
by di e en ac o s. Resea ch on in as uc u e esilience and he
de elopmen o mo e lood- esis an cons uc ion ma e ials and
echniques a e also a eas o g ea ele ance.
In addi ion o echnology, social and economic esea ch is
essen ial o unde s anding he impac s o looding on
communi ies and o de eloping adap a ion s a egies ha a e
socially jus and economically iable. This includes s udies on
social ulne abili y, isk pe cep ion, he e ec i eness o public
policies, and he economic cos s o disas e s.
In sho , scien i ic esea ch and inno a ion a e essen ial d i e s
o imp o ing lood managemen in U uguaiana and he U uguay
Ri e basin. Con inued in es men in science and echnology,
he p omo ion o collabo a ion be ween uni e si ies, esea ch
cen es, go e nmen s and he p i a e sec o , and he applica ion
o he knowledge gene a ed in p ac ice a e undamen al s eps
owa ds building a sa e and mo e esilien u u e o i e side
communi ies.
7. The Impo ance o Wa e shed Managemen o Flood
P e en ion
Wa e shed managemen is a undamen al concep o
unde s anding and managing wa e esou ces, especially wi h
ega d o lood p e en ion and mi iga ion. A wa e shed, by i s
e y de ini ion, is a e i o ial uni whe e all p ecipi a ion wa e
con e ges o a single ou le poin , be i a i e , lake o ocean.
140
This na u al in e connec ion means ha ac ions and e en s in
any pa o he wa e shed can ha e signi ican impac s on o he s,
highligh ing he need o an in eg a ed and holis ic app oach.
In he con ex o he U uguay Ri e and he loods in U uguaiana,
wa e shed managemen anscends municipal and s a e
bounda ies, eaching an in e na ional dimension, since he i e
is sha ed by B azil, A gen ina, and U uguay. This complexi y
equi es mul i-le el and mul i-ins i u ional coo dina ion o lood
p e en ion s a egies o be e ec i e.
One o he pilla s o i e basin managemen is land use and
occupa ion planning. The way in which land is used and
occupied h oughou he basin di ec ly in luences he
hyd ological egime. De o es a ion, he expansion o u ban a eas
wi hou adequa e planning, and he occupa ion o loodplains and
lood- d plains educe he na u al capaci y o he soil o abso b
and e ain wa e , inc easing su ace uno and he speed a
which wa e eaches i e s. This, in u n, in ensi ies lood peaks
and educes esponse ime o downs eam communi ies. The
implemen a ion o ecological-economic zoning and mas e plans
ha conside he wa e dynamics o he basin is c ucial o
sus ainable de elopmen and isk educ ion.
The conse a ion and es o a ion o na u al ecosys ems a e
equally impo an . Ripa ian o es s, we lands, and sp ings ac as
na u al in as uc u es ha egula e wa e low, il e pollu an s,
and p o ec he soil om e osion. Res o ing hese deg aded
a eas h ough e o es a ion and en i onmen al eco e y
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p og ammes can inc ease he basin's esilience, helping o
educe he magni ude and equency o loods. These na u e-
based solu ions a e o en mo e cos -e ec i e and sus ainable in
he long e m han la ge enginee ing wo ks.
Wa e esou ce managemen , which includes he ope a ion o
dams and ese oi s, should also be in eg a ed in o basin
managemen . Coo dina ion be ween hyd oelec ic plan
ope a o s and lood managemen agencies is essen ial o
op imise wa e elease, ensu ing powe gene a ion while
minimising he impac s o downs eam looding. T anspa en
communica ion and eal- ime da a sha ing a e essen ial o his
coo dina ion.
In addi ion, social pa icipa ion is a key componen o i e
basin managemen . The c ea ion o basin commi ees, which
b ing oge he ep esen a i es om go e nmen s, wa e use s,
ci il socie y, and esea ch ins i u ions, allows decisions o be
made in a pa icipa o y manne and di e en in e es s o be
econciled. Communi y engagemen in he de elopmen o
managemen plans, o e sigh , and implemen a ion o ac ions is
c i ical o he success o ini ia i es.
In summa y, i e basin managemen is a s a egic and
in eg a ed app oach ha ecognises he in e connec ion o
na u al and human sys ems. By conside ing he basin as a
planning and managemen uni , i is possible o de elop mo e
e ec i e s a egies o lood p e en ion, wa e esou ce
conse a ion and he p omo ion o sus ainable de elopmen . Fo
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he U uguay and U uguaiana i e s, his app oach is impe a i e
o building a sa e and mo e esilien u u e in he ace o he
challenges posed by clima e change and inc easing p essu e on
na u al esou ces.
8. The Role o En i onmen al Educa ion in Building
Resilience
En i onmen al educa ion is a undamen al pilla in building he
esilience o communi ies in he ace o na u al disas e s, such
as he looding o he U uguay Ri e in U uguaiana. Mo e han
simply ansmi ing in o ma ion, en i onmen al educa ion seeks
o p omo e a change in alues, a i udes, and beha iou s,
empowe ing indi iduals and communi ies o unde s and he
complex ela ionships be ween he en i onmen and socie y and
o ac esponsibly and p oac i ely in isk managemen .
In he con ex o looding, en i onmen al educa ion plays se e al
c ucial oles:
● Risk Awa eness: O en, he popula ion is no ully awa e
o he isks o which i is exposed, especially in his o ically
occupied loodplain a eas. En i onmen al educa ion can in o m
people abou i e dynamics, he ac o s ha con ibu e o
looding (na u al and an h opogenic), and he po en ial impac s
on li e and p ope y. This awa eness is he i s s ep owa ds
adop ing p e en i e measu es.
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● Unde s anding he Wa e shed: I is essen ial ha people
unde s and ha hey li e in a wa e shed and ha ac ions aken
in one pa o he wa e shed can a ec o he s. En i onmen al
educa ion can illus a e he in e connec ion be ween ups eam
ain all and downs eam looding, showing how de o es a ion,
soil sealing, and pollu ion in dis an a eas can impac he local
communi y. This sys emic iew is undamen al o p omo ing
in eg a ed managemen .
● P omo ing Sa e Beha iou : En i onmen al educa ion can
each he popula ion how o ac be o e, du ing, and a e a lood.
This includes de eloping amily eme gency plans, p epa ing
su i al ki s, iden i ying sa e e acua ion ou es, and he
impo ance o ollowing ci il de ence guidelines. Conduc ing
simula ions and p ac ical aining can ein o ce hese beha iou s
and inc ease esponse capaci y in eme gency si ua ions.
● Encou aging Sus ainable P ac ices: En i onmen al
educa ion can p omo e he adop ion o mo e sus ainable
p ac ices in e e yday li e, which con ibu e o educing lood
isks. This includes p ope was e disposal, wa e conse a ion,
plan ing ees in deg aded a eas, and suppo ing public policies
aimed a p o ec ing ipa ian o es s and p ope land use
managemen . Small indi idual ac ions, when mul iplied, can
ha e a signi ican impac on he esilience o he basin.
● S eng hening Ci izen Pa icipa ion: En i onmen al
educa ion can empowe communi ies o ac i ely pa icipa e in
decision-making p ocesses ela ed o wa e esou ce
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managemen and disas e p e en ion. By unde s anding hei
igh s and esponsibili ies, ci izens can moni o go e nmen
ac ions, p opose solu ions, and de end hei in e es s,
con ibu ing o mo e democ a ic and anspa en go e nance.
In U uguaiana, he implemen a ion o ongoing en i onmen al
educa ion p og ammes adap ed o he local eali y is a s a egic
in es men . Schools, esiden s' associa ions, NGOs and public
agencies can wo k oge he o dissemina e knowledge and
p omo e awa eness. By empowe ing he popula ion wi h
in o ma ion and skills, en i onmen al educa ion con ibu es
di ec ly o building a cul u e o p e en ion and inc easing he
ci y's esilience o he challenges posed by he looding o he
U uguay Ri e .
9. Challenges and Oppo uni ies o Sus ainable
De elopmen in he U uguay Ri e Basin
The U uguay Ri e basin, wi h i s as expanse and na u al
weal h, p esen s a complex scena io o challenges and
oppo uni ies o sus ainable de elopmen . The sea ch o a
balance be ween economic g ow h, social inclusion, and
en i onmen al p o ec ion is impe a i e o ensu e he p ospe i y
o i e side communi ies and he long- e m heal h o he
ecosys em. Flooding, al hough a na u al phenomenon,
in ensi ies he u gency o add essing hese challenges in an
in eg a ed manne .
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One o he main challenges is he p essu e on na u al
esou ces. The expansion o ag icul u e and li es ock a ming,
he demand o ene gy and inc easing u banisa ion exe
signi ican p essu e on soil, wa e and biodi e si y. e
de o es a ion, soil e osion, wa e pollu ion om pes icides and
sewage, and he loss o na u al habi a s a e di ec consequences
o his p essu e. The lack o adequa e planning and en o cemen
exace ba es hese p oblems, comp omising he basin's abili y o
p o ide essen ial ecosys em se ices, such as egula ing he
wa e cycle and pu i ying he ai .
Clima e change ep esen s a c oss-cu ing challenge ha
ampli ies he o he s. The inc eased equency and in ensi y o
ex eme e en s, such as p olonged d ough s and o en ial ains,
di ec ly impac wa e a ailabili y, ag icul u al p oduc i i y, and
communi y sa e y. Unce ain y abou u u e scena ios equi es
lexible and obus adap a ion s a egies ha conside clima e
a iabili y and associa ed isks.
Howe e , he U uguay Ri e basin also o e s signi ican
oppo uni ies o sus ainable de elopmen . Sus ainable
ag icul u e and li es ock a ming, o example, can be
p omo ed h ough conse a ionis p ac ices such as no- ill
a ming, c op-li es ock- o es in eg a ion, and o ganic a ming.
These p ac ices no only educe en i onmen al impac bu can
also inc ease p oduc i i y and he esilience o p oduc ion
sys ems o clima e a ia ions.
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Ecological and cul u al ou ism is ano he oppo uni y o be
explo ed. The scenic beau y o he U uguay Ri e , i s beaches,
islands, and he ich biodi e si y o he egion, combined wi h he
local cul u e and his o y o he i e side communi ies, can a ac
isi o s and gene a e income o he popula ion. The
de elopmen o ou is i ine a ies ha alue na u e and local
cul u e, wi h a ocus on sus ainabili y and communi y
in ol emen , can be a d i e o di e si ied economic
de elopmen .
The gene a ion o enewable ene gy, in addi ion o
hyd oelec ic powe , also has po en ial. The basin has esou ces
o sola and wind powe gene a ion, which can complemen he
ene gy ma ix and educe dependence on non- enewable
sou ces. In es men in clean and e icien echnologies is
essen ial o sus ainable ene gy de elopmen .
In eg a ed solid was e managemen and basic sani a ion a e
challenges ha , once o e come, become g ea oppo uni ies o
public and en i onmen al heal h. Sewage ea men , selec i e
collec ion and was e ecycling no only imp o e he quali y o li e
o communi ies, bu can also gene a e jobs and income, in
addi ion o p o ec ing he basin's wa e esou ces.
Finally, c oss-bo de coope a ion be ween B azil, A gen ina,
and U uguay is a unique oppo uni y o he sus ainable
de elopmen o he basin. The exchange o knowledge,
coo dina ion o policies, and implemen a ion o join p ojec s can
s eng hen he capaci y o all coun ies o add ess common
147
challenges and p omo e mo e equi able and sus ainable egional
de elopmen . The U uguay Ri e l basin is he e o e a li ing
labo a o y whe e sus ainabili y challenges mee oppo uni ies o
inno a ion and collabo a ion, equi ing a long- e m ision and a
collec i e commi men o building a mo e esilien and
p ospe ous u u e.
10. The Role o Media and Communica ion in Raising
Awa eness abou Floods
The media and communica ion play a c ucial ole in aising public
awa eness abou loods and p omo ing a cul u e o p e en ion
and esilience. In a scena io o inc easingly equen ex eme
wea he e en s, he way in o ma ion is con eyed and pe cei ed
by he popula ion can di ec ly in luence he capaci y o espond
and adop p e en i e measu es. E ec i e communica ion is
he e o e a s a egic ool in disas e isk managemen .
Du ing a lood e en , he media ( ele ision, adio, newspape s,
in e ne ) is he main sou ce o in o ma ion o he popula ion.
News co e age should be accu a e, impa ial and imely,
p o iding up- o-da e da a on i e le els, a ec ed a eas,
e acua ion ou es and shel e loca ions. The language used
should be clea and accessible, a oiding echnical ja gon ha
could con use he public. B oadcas ing s o ies o esilience and
examples o solida i y can also inspi e he communi y and
s eng hen social ies.
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In addi ion o eal- ime co e age, he media plays a key ole in
educa ion and p e en ion. Educa ional p og ammes,
documen a ies, and special epo s can add ess opics such as
i e dynamics, he impac s o clima e change, he impo ance o
en i onmen al p ese a ion, and sa e y measu es o be aken in
he e en o looding. Awa eness campaigns, in pa ne ship wi h
ci il de ence agencies and esea ch ins i u ions, can ein o ce
impo an messages and encou age he popula ion o p epa e.
Social media and digi al pla o ms ha e eme ged as powe ul
ools o communica ion in eme gency si ua ions. They allow o
he apid dissemina ion o in o ma ion, in e ac ion wi h he
popula ion, and he mobilisa ion o olun ee s. Howe e , hey
also pose a challenge, as hey can be ehicles o he sp ead o
ake news and umou s, which can cause panic and hinde c isis
managemen . Ve i ying in o ma ion and p omo ing eliable
sou ces a e essen ial in his digi al en i onmen .
Public agencies and esea ch ins i u ions also need o
imp o e hei communica ion s a egies. The a ailabili y o eal-
ime hyd ome eo ological da a, he c ea ion o in e ac i e
pla o ms wi h isk maps, and he publica ion o epo s and
s udies in accessible language a e measu es ha can inc ease
anspa ency and public engagemen . Pa ne ships wi h
jou nalis s and communica o s can ensu e ha echnical
in o ma ion is e ec i ely ansla ed o he gene al public.
Finally, isk communica ion should be con inuous and no jus
eac i e. I is impo an ha he popula ion be cons an ly
