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Environmental monitoring in watersheds depends on reliable environmental diagnostics for better management of natural resources. Thus, this study aimed to perform the environmental assessment of the Ribeirao Sozinha Basin, by relating and identifying the main impacts in the watershed and fluvial environmental by applying a matrix of environmental impact and a rapid assessment protocol. This study also aimed to identify and evaluate the main use and occupation of the soil that could impact water resources, through the use of geotechnologies, and also evaluate the combined use of these three methodologies in the study of selected watershed. Using the protocol it was observed that about 33.3% of the stretches are considered “natural” and 66.7% are “modified” or “impacted”. Already the application of the matrix indicated that the majority of stretches suffer impacts of “high” or “medium” intensity. The land use map that showed the greatest anthropogenic activities in this basin are agriculture and livestock and the majority of impacts on water resources and in the basin are related to these activities. It can be stated that the methodologies used are complementary, and despite the need for adaptations, combined use can be a viable option for environmental monitoring

Over the last few years, the operation of the Furnas Hydropower Plant (HPP) reservoir, located in the Grande River Basin, has been threatened due to a significant reduction in inflow. In the region, hydrological modelling tools are being used and tested to support decision making and water sustainability. In this study, the streamflow was modelled in the area of direct influence of the Furnas HPP reservoir, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model performance was verified for studies in the region. Analyses of sensitivity and uncertainty were undertaken using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting algorithm (SUFI-2) with a Calibration Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP). The hydrological modelling, at a monthly scale, presented good results in the calibration (NS 0.86), with a slight reduction of the coefficient in the validation period (NS 0.64). The results suggested that this tool could be applied in future hydrological studies in the region of study. With the consideration that special attention should be given to the historical series used in the calibration and validation of the models. It is important to note that this region has high demands for water resources, primarily for agricultural use. Water demands must also be taken into account in future hydrological simulations. The validation of this methodology led to important contributions to the management of water resources in regions with tropical climates, whose climatological and geological reality resembles the one studied here.