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This paper presents a procedure to study depressional wetlands in southern Brazil and focuses on the mechanisms controlling water dynamics and environmental degradation due to anthropogenic interference. The study is based on an inventory of wetlands, a digital elevation model, the geological and geotechnical characteristics of geological materials, a multitemporal analysis of satellite images, the distribution of land use types, and onsite monitoring of water level and rainfall data. One hundred and twelve depressional wetlands were identified with a total area of 902 ha and a catchment area of 5456.8 ha. These wetlands were grouped into two classes with different hydrological control mechanisms. From the water level monitoring, the wetlands were found to present different hydrological conditions. Before rainy periods, the wetlands were almost dry or had little water; after rainy periods, over half of the wetlands were still dry or had groundwater levels below the surface, and the water levels of the other wetlands increased. The multitemporal analysis showed a reduction in the wetland water surface area from 270 ha in 1991 to 60 ha in 2019, which confirms the monitoring result that the amount of stored water is decreasing because of anthropogenic activities. Anthropogenic activities affect wetland water dynamics because of changes in the landscape and soil characteristics of the catchment area, and drainage of wetland areas by ditches for agricultural water supply; more than 50% of wetlands showed a high degree of change (environmental degradation), with conditions that make restoration or remediation very difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]