Local IWRM organizations for groundwater regulation: The experiences of the Aquifer Management Councils (COTAS) in Guanajuato, Mexico
Evidence of groundwater management by aquifer users emerging under Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) initiatives is presented, by analyzing the Consejos Técnicos de Aguas (COTAS; Technical Water Councils or Aquifer Management Councils) in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, established betwe...
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Published in | Natural resources forum Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 29 - 38 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.02.2009
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Evidence of groundwater management by aquifer users emerging under Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) initiatives is presented, by analyzing the Consejos Técnicos de Aguas (COTAS; Technical Water Councils or Aquifer Management Councils) in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, established between 1998 and 2000 by the Guanajuato State Water Commission (CEAG). Two contrasting models influenced this attempt to promote user self‐regulation of groundwater extractions: locally autonomous aquifer organizations with powers to regulate groundwater extractions versus aquifer organizations with advisory powers only. The COTAS were conceived as locally autonomous IWRM organizations consisting of all aquifer users that would work together to reduce groundwater over‐extraction and stabilize aquifer levels, at a later stage. CEAG followed an expedient IWRM approach to develop the COTAS, setting achievable targets for their development and explicitly focusing on active stakeholder participation. The article shows that, due to struggles between the state and federal levels, the COTAS have become advisory bodies that have not led to reductions in groundwater extractions. It concludes that achieving user self‐regulation of groundwater extractions requires a fuller delegation of responsibilities to the COTAS which would not be possible without addressing the institutional struggles over water governance at the state and federal levels. |
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Bibliography: | ark:/67375/WNG-8C8XXBGP-Q ArticleID:NARF1206 istex:40CD94B182E21C192EB919A1401CB75062A0DAD6 linden.vincent@wur.nl The authors are all with the Irrigation and Water Engineering Group of Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands. Philippus Wester is Assistant Professor Water Reforms. E‐mail jaime.hoogesteger@wur.nl flip.wester@wur.nl Jaime Hoogesteger is a Ph.D. researcher. E‐mail Linden Vincent is Professor of Irrigation and Water Engineering. E‐mail . ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1 |
ISSN: | 0165-0203 1477-8947 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2009.01206.x |