Social organization and water conflicts in the Conchos Basin

In the last decade, the water conflicts in the Conchos river basin due not only to natural variations in water availability, but also by the management and social participation difficulties, associated with the expansion in the demand and the changes in the water management to a decentralized way of watershed management. There are many evidences that prove the emergency of new conflicts for the water in practically all its uses. In cause of this competition for water, the environmental issues in the policies increases the awareness about the requirements to transform the environment in another “user” with rights on the water, and not only as a receptor of the surpluses. To confront the increasing water contest, new schemes of management based on the agreement and participation of the stakeholders are raising. This study analyzes the perception of the agricultural users around the socio-environmental challenges of the river basin, and the its disposition to participate in programs of environmental rehabilitation, in a study carried out in two irrigation districts: the 005 "Delicias" and the 090 "Bajo Rio Conchos", both in Chihuahua state