The São Fransisco River Basin report, by Bart Offringa
The river São Francisco is the longest river entirely contained within Brazil, with a length of circa 2.900 kilometres. The drainage area extends over north-eastern Brazil and has an surface of 551.410 km2.
São Francisco
Length: 2900 kilometres
Basin surface: 551.410 km2
Climate: hot and dry, 19° and 33° C
Environmental issues
- The main areas of use are energy conversion and agriculture
- In addition shipping navigation, fishery and residential area are main areas of use.
- Technical development and irrigation benefiting agriculture have changed the rivers course.
São Fransisco
The main question of this research is:
“What are substantial issues in the area of sustainable water management in the Saõ Francisco river basin” The aim of this report is to create a vision by means of desk research in which natural characteristics, areas of use and the set-up of the water management are integrated.
Figure 1: The Saõ Francisco river basin
During her course the São Francisco runs into two large reservoirs, the Trés Marias Reservoir and the Sobradinho Reservoir in behalf of energy extraction.
The climate within the basin is principally hot and dry, with a mean minimum and maximum temperature of respectively 19° and 33° C. Within the upper course the climate is relatively moist with an annual rainfall of 1020 – 2040 mm.
The main areas of use are energy conversion and agriculture, which energy extraction serves main economical interests. In the last forty years the area irrigated land has increased fourfold, this resulted in a growth of productivity within the agriculture.
In addition shipping navigation, fishery and residential area are main areas of use.
The government authority at the national level responsible for coordinating water resource management and development is the Water Resources Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and the Legal Amazon (MMA).
Sanitation policy (which includes water supply and treatment, sewage collection and treatment, collection and urban drainage) is under the responsibility of the Urban Policy Secretariat of the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
At the local level the so-called Municipal Consortia defines actions, coordinates and promotes efforts with respect to improving the conditions of the basin, particularly concerning the water conditions.
At the river basin level, 43 Basin Committees have been established until now. These committees make decisions on conflicts of use of water resources and follow-up governmental implementation.
To support sustainable development a Brazilian version of the Agenda 21 has been drawn up. Within this action plan national and local organisations of the UN, governments and other important organisations are represented. The aim of Agenda 21 is to create a strategy for sustainable development.
Technical development and irrigation benefiting agriculture in the last fifty years have changed the rivers course. Because the São Francisco river isn’t inexhaustible government policy, to protect its characteristic features, remains necessary.
Further investigation should take place to forecast the future of the São Francisco river basin.
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