Rio Grande do Sul launches $8 million batimetry studies for flood prevention

The government of Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul signed contracts in Imbé on 1 July 2026 to begin field work on three new batimetry blocks covering lagoons and rivers of the northern coastal plain. The projects, part of the Plano Rio Grande and funded with about R$ 7.8‑8 million from the Funrigs climate‑resilience fund, will map the seabed of the Tramandaí basin—including Lagoa dos Quadros, Lagoa dos Barros, Rio Três Forquilhas, Rio Maquiné and related lagoon systems—as well as southern lagoon complexes and the upper Jacuí basin.

Governor Eduardo Leite, Environment and Infrastructure Secretary Marjorie Kauffmann and local mayors attended the ceremony, emphasizing the studies’ role in flood risk mitigation, urban planning, drainage improvement and the restoration of navigability for tourism and commerce. The contracted consortia will start surveys in the coming days, with first technical reports expected within six months. Collected data will be uploaded to the State Spatial Data Infrastructure portal for use by researchers, municipalities and civil‑defence agencies.