SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE LAKE OF BASTIANA, IGUATU-CE

Socio and environmental analysis of The Bastiana Lake, Iguatu-CE

Abstract

The municipal headquarters of Iguatu, located in the Center-South region of Ceará, has been experiencing accelerated growth, especially in the urban area, in the last two decades, due to processes related to real estate speculation, as well as to the related and increasing water pollution of natural water bodies present in its urban area. For having a flat and sandy morphology due to the predominantly sedimentary formation of the Iguatu basin, associated with the presence of the Jaguaribe river bed and its waters; the city is an authentic natural “cradle” for the appearance of lakes of different sizes, while several dotted the urban landscape of the city, but which over the years have disappeared or their sizes have been restricted to make room for different constructions. In this context, the present work presents a socio-environmental analysis of the Bastiana lake, the main lake in the urban area of the city. Methodologically, the research took place in interrelated stages of office (survey of documentary, bibliographic, cartographic and iconographic data), field (survey and verification of data) and laboratory (treatment and preparation of materials). As results, it was found that this lake is currently undergoing an accentuated silting process, decreasing its water mirror, currently taken up by aquatic plants. Cleaning and dredging bring the possibility of reestablishing some environmental characteristics of this water body, as has happened with other lakes, including in the state of Ceará. It is expected that the work will contribute to the local and regional discussion on the adequate use of water resources, especially in urban environments, and that their conservation is linked to urban and environmental management within sustainable guidelines.