In the operations phase of the Machadinho Hydroelectric Power Station a set of actions was implemented for controlling the property and ecosystems portfolio, called the Environmental and Socio-wealth Management Plan.

There are various monitoring programs in this plan, such as control of the outflow and the quality of the water and the climatic conditions, with daily field records being made.

The native forest was replanted with 1.1 million new saplings coming from countless nurseries located in various municipalities. The region’s fauna was studied before, during and after the flooding occurred, using appropriate techniques for rescuing saving and constantly monitoring it in the new areas to which it was moved. 

Releasing fish
On November 6, 2007 on the initiative of Tractebel Energia, which operates the Itá and Machadinho hydroelectric power stations (the latter with the participation Alcoa), the lake formed by the Machadinho Hydroelectric Power Station received 6,000 fish of the dourado [gilded catfish] and grumatão species, which are native to the Uruguai River basin.

The fish were released at two points, in the municipalities of Piratuba (SC) and Barracão (RS), and the objective was to guarantee the preservation of these migratory fish of the Uruguai River basin that are threatened with extinction. This project was developed in partnership with LAPAD (Freshwater Fish Breeding Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Catarina) which has been carrying out icthyofauna studies (the fish species of a particular region) for the Machadinho and Itá Hydroelectric Power Stations since 1995. More than 300 people were present on the occasion.

2nd Brazilian Environment Award
The environmental act ivies developed by the Machadinho Consortium were recognized by the Jornal do Brasil and JB Online. The Consortium was the winner of the 2nd Brazilian Environment Award, sponsored by the communication group from Rio de Janeiro, in the category ‘Fauna and Flora’, with its work: The Cambona 4 Agriculture and Forestry system.

The main objectives of the work were to reconcile preservation of the environment with economic development, to create employment and income in the rural environment, to preserve the region’s native species, to reproduce the natural habitat for fauna, to encourage family farming, and consequently to keep people in the countryside, and to substitute the native erva-mate [Ilex paraguariensis] for the Cambona 4 erva-mate, which is of better quality and has a better price in the market.

The work has been taking place in the Machadinho (RS) region since 2000, in partnership with the Erva-Mate Producers Association (APROMATE) and with the support of the Integrated Regional University of Erechim (RS) and EMBRAPA (Forests).

1st Environment and Sustainability Week of the Uruguai River Regional Administration 
On November 21 and 22, 2007, employees and partners of the Machadinho Hydroelectric Power Station took part in the 1st Environment and Sustainability Week of the Uruguai River Region. 

The objective of the event was to present the actions that are being carried out for producing energy in a socio-environmentally responsible way. The program included a presentation of the main environmental projects and a visit to the Fritz Plaumann Park.

The event was an initiative of the Uruguai River regional administration, which comprises the power stations operated by Tractebel - Itá, Machadinho and Passo Fundo. Managers of the partners, representatives from the municipalities, the Public Attorney’s Office, the environmental police, civil society and employees were present at the event.