Water use in the estuary of the Quequen Grande river

CAMPO DE FERRERAS, A. M.; CAPELLI DE STEFFENS, A.; PICCOLO, M.C.

Bahía Blanca

Congreso; 4th LOICZ Open Science Meeting; 1999

LOICZ

Coastal environments and estuaries are natural systems that may be damaged by human activities. There are significant differences in land and water use between estuaries where the man activities are concentrated in their margins and those situated in non-urban regions. Estuaries with ports in their mouths have buildings and paved riversides. Constant dredging to optimise the operation of the port alters the topography. Generally the runoff water that discharges into estuaries is used as a source of water supply for humans and animals, industry, agricultural irrigation etc. The main objective of the present investigation is to study the estuary of the Quequén Grande river as an urbanized estuary. Specific objectives were to analyse the water use for different applications downstream of Quequén Grande. Urban and agricultural activities were mapped with standard techniques. The relationship between these human activities and variations in salinity and temperature are studied. The different uses of the riverside areas that were identified are: 1) agricultural cattle raising activities, 2) industrial agricultural activities, 3) an urban zone with concentrated recreational activities and 4) the harbour area with multiple uses. Significant variations of salinity were found in the urban sector. However, no temperature variations were observed.