Análise dos instrumentos de gestão de recursos hídricos com ênfase nas ações do comitê de bacia do rio Santa Maria, RS

Abstract

The Santa Maria watershed is located in southwestern of Rio Grande do Sul State and has area of 15,740 km ². Irrigation by means of agriculture is the largest user of water. The main goal of this research was to analyze strategies of water management based on discourses of social agents of the Committee of Management of Santa Maria River Watershed (CMSMW) from 2008 to 2012 - which means two biennium of management. It was proposed to analyze discourse changes from the minutes of meetings of the CMSMW. To accomplish these aims, firstly it was categorized social agents speeches - which are called ideas - to determine a sample unit of analyses, about water management instruments (resulting in N = 433). After that it was applied the concept mapping method, which was used to organize and to articulate the visual representation of networks of ideas, by using multivariate statistics techniques. Lately, it was developed a database and were included in activities that are part of the internal dynamics of the CMSMW. In total, 45 organizations had ideas recorded in minutes in the period of analysis. The structure of the conceptual map showed that there is a preponderance of the discussions and effective actions of the Committee related to the registration of users for the grant of water use Another aspect is that the uncertainty of supply due to lack of monitoring of discharges is a critical factor in the basin, resulting in a wide trading, but without effective referrals. There was a 13% increase in ideas classified as Water Resources Management Instruments from one biennium to another, and it was shown an improvement in the quality of the minutes. Also, there was a preponderance and increasing qualification of such matters as "system information user and granting of grants" and "strategies for managing supply" with an emphasis on self-management. Despite the large amount of ideas, the method assisted in the analysis of preponderant themes, inter-relationships, decision-making and effectiveness of actions. It is expected that the results of the analysis may assist the Committee in self-assessment of its actions and the direction of its management.