INTERFERENCES OF ARBOREAL SPECIES IN THE INTERCEPTION OF URBAN STORMWATER

Abstract

This study evaluates evaluated the interception and its impacts in urban watersheds. Data collection occurred in Uruaçu, Goiás, between 2013 and 2014, and used three individual trees. For events with median rainfall of 20.7mm, the three species met the following median values for interception and stem flow, respectively: 5.7 and 0.1 mm for Mangifera indica ; 4.5 and 0.2 mm for Licania tomentosa; and 3.8 and 0.3 mm for Tabebuia ochracea. The delay time of the surface runoff was on average 3 min for the three species. The study proves proved the interference and the positive impacts of treetops and trunks on the interception of rainwater in an urban environment. It indicates the possibility of annual runoff reduction in up to 27% and shows that urban afforestation can reduce stormwaterstorm water runoff and intensity of volume disposed, as well as increase the time of concentration and the time to the peak of hydrographs, especially of small watersheds.