Impact of urban occupation on the occurrence of floods and inundations in the Mineirinho stream basin in São Carlos-SP, Brazil

Abstract

The expansion of urban areas and the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather events have demanded the development of technologies, policies, and practices to make cities more resilient. In the city of São Carlos-SP, Brazil, the occupation of the Mineirinho stream basin has resulted in environmental and urban impacts. In this context, the present study sought to investigate whether there was a relationship between the implementation of real estate developments in the basin, between 2010 and 2022, and the occurrence of flooding downstream from where they are located. To this end, census data and online spatial data platforms on land use and land cover in the study area were used. Additionally, a survey of news reports on floods and inundations involving the Mineirinho stream was conducted. The results showed an increase in the number of recorded floods and inundations, coinciding with the construction of new developments in the area covered by the micro-basin. Therefore, it is concluded that there are indications of a relationship between the occupation of the basin and the occurrence of those events, making it crucial for authorities and political leaders at multiple levels to commit to mitigating their impact by investing in resilient infrastructure, such as natural retention areas, as well as integrated planning strategies.