IWRA Proceedings

As the result of a drought and decades of urban growth in the Río Bravo/Rio Grande basin, the distribution of scarce water resources among competing uses has escalated into an international and intranational conflict for Mexico. This conflict comes at a time when Mexico has officially adopted policies aimed at fostering a more transparent, participatory and decentralized approach to water management. After providing an introduction to the factors behind the current conflict, this article describes Mexican water governance and policy options that it provides for addressing the conflict. Particular attention is given to water pricing, quotas, and markets as tools for reducing demand for irrigation water.