Abstract:
Increases in the number of urban residents have significant impacts on spatial pressure,
affecting the utilization of river basins. The purpose of this study is to analyze (1) the increase in
population and changes in spatial use as determinants of the complexity of the watershed ecosystem;
(2) the effect of housing development, urban activity systems, and land use changes on the degradation
of the environmental quality of the watershed; and (3) the direct and indirect effects of changes in
spatial use, land reclamation, and community behavior on water pollution and the sustainability of
watershed management in Maros City. The research method used is a sequential explanatory design
combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data were obtained through observation,
in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. The study findings show that land use change,
complexity of spatial use, and community behavior have a negative impact on the environmental
quality of the watershed. Housing development, urban activity systems, and changes in land use
had a significant effect on environmental quality degradation, with a coefficient of determination
of 73.9%. Furthermore, the influence of spatial use, land reclamation, and community behavior on
water pollution in the watershed was 72.82%. This study may serve to assist the decision-making of
and policy formation by the Maros Regency Government in the framework of controlling the use of
watersheds, working towards their social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
