The Evolution and the Decision-Making Process in the Urussanga River Basin Committee, Brazil.

Water is a finite and irreplaceable resource. Thus the watershed management approach is aimed at improving the quality of land and water. The management of water resources takes place in order to predict, identify and seek solutions regarding the quality and/or quantity of water. The Watershed Committees have members of several institutions (from public, private and civil society organizations) that aim to make this water management. For this purpose the present study aims to analyze the decision-making process of the Urussanga River Basin Committee (URBC) in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This is an exploratory, descriptive study supported by qualitative analysis of the “meeting minutes” available on line; and in semi-structured interviews to selected committee members. The results showed that decision-making are generally operational and concerning the quantity or quality of water. The URBC is recent and is in ripening process of their decisions. This is observed because over time, more complex issues were gradually being inserted into the agenda of URBC. Decisions such as registration of users, dredging and desilting of rivers and learning of members with lectures and workshops among others. In general, it is noticeable the interrelationship change between the committee members because the meetings are open and every member can express their opinion, which has taken place smoothly. Nevertheless, only members of the commission, interfere in decisions and have voting rights. Eventually occurs disagreements and discussions, however this fact occurs with respect among members. This is evident in the study of the minutes of meeting, which also shows that the debates have political motivations, technical, informative, enlightening, educational, and others. As of 2010, matters relating to strategic issues and development began to enter more strongly in the meeting agendas. Inclusion of scientific papers lectures and presentations was also evidenced in the minutes, both in number increase as well the repercussions of the importance of the scientific segment in the basin. It is noteworthy that the water issue is in the agenda of the whole society, because their participation is evident and necessary to ease the challenges to be faced and at the decision-making.