SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SEDIMENT GENERATION AND CONNECTIVITY IN HPPS WATERSHEDS

Abstract The knowledge of the spatial variability of the generation and transport of sediments allows the identification with considerable precision critical areas regarding the generation and flow of detrital materials in watersheds. This paper aims to relate the spatial variability of soil loss and sediment connectivity in a contribution basin of the Batalha Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir in the municipality of Cristalina (GO). The methodology comprised the bivariate spatial correlation between production estimates (MUSLE) and the Connectivity Index (CI) applied at a slope scale in the basin's contribution area. The results indicate the configuration of four spatial patterns: low production and low connectivity index in most of the area, comprising the higher and flatter portions; low production and high connectivity index in the vicinity of springs and drainage channels; high production and low connectivity index in the higher, steeper and more distant portions; and high production and high connectivity, predominating in the steepest portions and closest to the channels or even in those portions that are more distant but are connected to the channel, in the latter situation via more intense surface runoff flow lines. In this sense, the importance of this methodology is highlighted in the identification of critical areas, which are priority areas for the implementation of mitigating measures of the impacts resulting from hydric erosive processes.