Variables and challenges of the decision making process for Hydrographic Basin Committees in Brazil

A gestão das águas no Brasil sofreu uma modernização acelerada nos anos 90, em termos legais e institucionais, com a Lei 9433/97. Na busca da gestão descentralizada e participativa, a Lei estabelece a gestão em nível de Comitês de Bacia Hidrográfica. Sua efetiva operacionalização depende do caráter do processo decisório, principalmente a capacidade de lidar com problemas conjunturais e interesses locais. O artigo visa discutir as qualidades e desafios deste processo no âmbito dos Comitês.One sees a rapid process of rivers management modernization in Brazil in the 90s - in legal and institutional terms. The approval of Law 9,433/97 was one of the main reasons for the changes. It established the National System of Hydrographic Resources Management based on decentralized and participative management principles. The Hydrographic Basin Committees are one of the most important pieces of the new system. The effectiveness of their activities depends on the nature of the decision making process, specially its capacity of dealing with conjectural problems and local interests. This article aims to discuss the qualities and challenges of this process within the committees