Ecosystem context in the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Dredging g Operations in the Argentina s Santa Fe Confluencia Waterway (Paraná River) Authors: Claudio Daniele (Estudio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Bureau) & Raúl S. Escalante (Hidrovía S.A.) Presented by Eng. Martín Civeira
STUDY AREA: Santa Fe Confluencia Waterway Length: 654 km of the Paraná River (up to confluence with Paraguay River). Medium annual flow: 17.100 m3/s. Width: 1.700 m to 4.200 m. Part of the Rio de la Plata Basin, 2 nd largest basin in South America and 4th largest basin in the world. Huge valuable biodiversity One of the largest freshwater reserves in the world. Argentina Paraguay Brazil Uruguay
SANTA FE CONFLUENCIA AND SANTA FE OCEAN WATERWAY PROJECTS Santa Fe Confluencia Waterway Hidrovía SA S.A. concession 650 km long Since 2010 10 ft navigable draft (+ 2 ft) 10 Santa Fe Ocean Waterway Hidrovía S.A. concession 1000 km long Since 1995 34 ft 34/25 ft navigable draft (+ 2 ft)
SANTA FE-CONFLUENCIA AND SANTA FE-ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERWAYS IN REGIONAL CONTEXT Both Santa Fe-Ocean and Santa Fe- Confluencia belong to the Paraguay Paraná Waterway Program (Hidrovía Paraguay Paraná) Countries involved: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay Included in the Initiative for South American Regional Integration (IIRSA, 2010), which emphasizes the importance of the Axis of the Paraguay Paraná HIDROVÍA PARAGUAY-PARANÁ PROGRAM Santa Fe -Confluencia Santa Fe- Ocean IIRSA
ECO-REGIONS The Paraná River crosses three eco-regions: Humid Chaco Confluencia Espinal Resistencia Delta and Islands of Paraná. Corrientes HUMID CHACO ESPINAL Floodplain ESPINAL
SANTA FE CONFLUENCIA WATERWAY PROJECT Objective: boost domestic and international commerce (Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil). Restrictions of the Paraná River in 19 shallow water stretches 1 km to 15 km long (total length of the waterway 654 km). 10 ft (+2) navigable draft 600.000 cu.m capital dredging 80% of volume in 3 shallow water stretches
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GENERAL SCOPES Systematic identification of the environmental consequences of the execution of the deepening project. Evaluation of impacts with quantitative and qualitative indicators. Proposals of mitigation measures for negative impacts. Environmental Management Plan.
EIA CONTENTS EIA approach includes: Legal frame Baseline Using these assets (and the activities of the project design) the study presents the EIA with: Impact matrix Mitigation measures Environmental Management Plan Atlas Map Corrientes GENERAL ATLAS IMPACT MATRIX
ECOSYSTEM CONTEXT The EIA included the ecosystem context Coastal ecosystems and floodplain: biogeographic characterization, vegetation units and wildlife. Aquatic biota: plankton, benthos, ichthyofauna. Water and sediment quality. Nature conservation: 14 natural protected areas, 2 Ramsar Sites, 2 Important Areas for Bird Conservation-IBAs IBAs, and fish reserves. PROTECTED AREAS AND RAMSAR SITES
ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS The analysis of impacts on the ecosystem context included: Aquatic environment in the main channel Coastal environment Aspects were studied at each stage of the project implementation: Capital dredging Maintenance dredging Surubí, patí, sábalo
ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS II Aquatic environment Dredging and material discharge were low (or negligible in some cases) Temporary duration Benthos: moderate intensity, although with a local scope Impacts on conservation of aquatic environments or biological productivity have not been identified Coastal environment Negative impacts were assessed as being indifferent to the components analyzed
MITIGATION MEASURES Local conditions of 31 discharge areas were studied Local conditions for one of the discharge area Criteria and conditions of banned areas for discharge were compiled and identified. Banned areas for discharge
DREDGING METHODS TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE IMPACTS The following actions were performed Channel design: less possible dredging Discharge area Side casting dredging, and... Discharge of dredged material: downstream. Not on the islands TSHD dredger
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The Environmental Management Plan includes several aspects that can promote environmental sustainability (ecosystem) of the project. Programs defined in EMP: Management program for each shallow area Sediment and water quality assessment Social communication Contingency and safety plans Waste management Environmental education Regular updating of Environmental Management Plan
CONCLUSIONS Consideration of the ecosystem context in the Argentina s Santa Fe Confluencia waterway (Parana river) was an item of importance in the design of this dredging project and its environmental assessment. The complexity and value of the ecosystem were considered in the different components of EIA and project stages. Suitable dredging methods were selected to protect the ecosystem. Paraná river 654 km
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Authors: Claudio Daniele (Estudio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Bureau) & Raúl S. Escalante (Hidrovía SA) Presented by Eng. Martín Civeira