INDICATORS OF THE IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON THE BED OF THE ESTUARY OF THE RIVER COCÓ-FORTALEZA/CEARÁ

Abstract

Urban growth verified in the last decades around the Poop River estuary, located in the city of Fortaleza, promoted various interventions in fluvial dynamics and ecosystem balance. Soon the study aimed to identify the effects of urbanization on the estuary through the survey of 22 collections of sediments in its bed, using a dredge (Van Veen) in 11 seasons of pre-established collection. The analysis of sediment collected enabled the recognition, in the samples from 01 02 03 04,,, and 09, construction waste, such as pieces of bricks, tiles and lumps of concrete and garbage and piçarra. Data collection in the field enabled the identification of several negative impacts promoted by urbanization, as: mangrove reclamation, deforestation, disposal and debris in the river bed, the disposal of domestic sewage and silting up of the river. The findings pointed to the need for a systematic monitoring of urban expansion in the area searched for recovery of riparian forest, for identification and control of pollutant loads from residential and commercial origin, for the promotion of environmental education, for the effective enlargement of cops in the Park and for its suitability for Conservation Unit National System (SNUC) According to the Federal Law No. 9985 of July 2000.