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FS 3.176

Water Scarcity and Governance Approaches

Details

Full Title
FS 3.176: Water Scarcity in Mountain Areas: Studies on Environmental Conflicts and Governance Proposals for Water Use
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Carlotta Sauerwein-Schlosser
Co-Conveners
Facundo Rojas,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
Socio-Ecology, Sustainable Development, Water Resources
Keywords
water resources, climate change, water use conflicts, hydrosocial territories, water governance

Description

Water use has become an increasingly controversial topic in mountain areas since precipitation patterns are changing massively and natural storing capacities such as ice and snow are being lost under the impact of global warming. With increasing competition among stakeholders for limited water resources, different user groups accuse each other of pursuing one-sided interests, that would lead to the inevitable loss of the livelihood of the entire community in the long term. The need for participatory negotiation and mediation is therefore becoming more and more important. Controversies surrounding strategies for future water use in (intensive) agriculture, winter tourism and energy generation from hydropower are highly emotional with stakeholders applying political, economic, or legal pressure to push decisions in their own interest, rather than addressing the concerns of those affected. But how can infrastructure projects (e.g. the construction of water retention basins and reservoirs for artificial snowmaking, irrigation, drinking water, or hydropower expansion) be designed and implemented to ensure participation of all stakeholders, evidence-based discussion and greatest possible consensus? This session thus aims to bring together the latest findings and debates from hydrology, ecology, geography, economics and social sciences to discuss the environmental risks, profitability and conflict dynamics associated with such infrastructure projects on the one hand, and to elaborate on how participatory and sustainable arrangements for water governance can be achieved on the other.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.9733

Participatory Characterization of Hydro-Social Territories: Identifying Territorial Patterns and Power Relations in the Upper Valdivia River Sub-basin

Jose Felipe Fernández Ocampo

Abstract/Description

This study adopts a participatory approach to characterize Hydrosocial Territories (HST) in the Upper Valdivia River Sub-basin, aiming to identify territorial patterns and power relations that shape water governance. By integrating hydrosocial theory with geospatial and social network analysis, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of the socio-ecological dimensions of water systems in a context of megadrought and climate change. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, including content analysis, review of legal frameworks, geospatial and geoeconomic analysis, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders—including community leaders, indigenous groups, and women’s organizations—focus groups, and participatory workshops using the World Café methodology. Direct field observations and engagement in local events further enrich the data collection process. This research identifies key governance structures, institutional norms, and negotiation spaces that influence water access and distribution, facilitating the development of socially acceptable, cost-effective, and contextually relevant adaptation strategies. By emphasizing the role of local knowledge and community participation, this approach enhances informed decision-making and promotes more equitable and sustainable water management practices. Additionally, the findings contribute to policy recommendations that strengthen territorial planning and resilience strategies in hydrologically vulnerable areas.

ID: 3.10069

Negotiating water: A case study on conflicts and synergy dynamics in relation to water use in Switzerland

Jacqueline Feurstein

Abstract/Description

This study examines negotiation processes among various actors on water usage in a Swiss Alpine region. Within the project ‘Values-based modes or production and consumption (FWF), the research focus on resource of water that is threatened by climate change in a social perspective. The research is grounded in the theoretical framework of the actor-network-theory and methodologically applies a case study approach to carve out an adaptation strate-gy. Specifically, it examines how the actor-network evolves during the renewal of the irriga-tion system in one specific village in Valais (CH). The primary objective is to analyze which actors are involved, how they interact, and how their relationships shape the negotiation pro-cess. Within the case study approach, interviews served to identify participating actors and understand their perspectives, and is complemented by a thorough document analysis. By providing insights into the ‘Water Network’ and the stakeholders engaged, the study aims to identify utilization conflicts and propose potential solutions. The findings could serve as a model for similar studies in other regions.

ID: 3.10693

Framing Water Issues in times of climate change: A Multimodal Analysis of Media Coverage

Mirjam Gruber

Abstract/Description

Climate change impacts water resources worldwide, including Europe – particularly Southern Europe – where countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Italy increasingly grapple with water scarcity, droughts, heatwaves, and fires. Even in the alpine Italian region of South Tyrol, localized water shortages are becoming more frequent, potentially raising conflicts over resource allocation. By analyzing local daily news broadcasts, as well as online and print mass media, this presentation examines how local media frame water-related issues in the context of water scarcity. The study aims to enhance the understanding of water’s role in the South Tyrolean multimodal discourse, identify potential conflicts, and define climate change’s (potential) role in the water discourse. By shedding light on these dynamics, our findings support policymakers, activists, and interest groups in addressing water-related issues and contribute to scientific literature, laying the groundwork for future research.

ID: 3.11432

Drought, Resilience and Conflict in the Pre-Columbian Andes of Capricorn (1000-1500 CE)

Mariano Morales
Nielsen, Axel; Christie, Duncan; Villalba, Ricardo

Abstract/Description

Before the Inca expansion (13th-15th centuries), the Central Andes (~10°-25°S) experienced endemic warfare, often linked to severe droughts. Water scarcity, reduced agricultural productivity, and resource competition are proposed triggers for these conflicts, though the climate-conflict mechanisms remain underexplored. Paleoclimatic records from the South American Altiplano (18°S-22°S) reveal recurrent droughts with regional variations due to complex topography, shaping local adaptation strategies and resilience. During the Late Precolumbian Period (LPP; 1000-1450 CE), populations in the Andes of Capricorn (20°-24°S) concentrated in Altiplano basins and mid-altitude valleys, relying on diversified agropastoral economies. This study integrates paleoclimatic data from the South American Drought Atlas (SADA) with archaeological evidence to assess the relationship between climate fluctuations, economic failure, and conflict in three regions: Northern Lípez (NL), Río Grande de San Juan (RGSJ), and Quebrada de Humahuaca (QH). Conflict indicators are chronologically analyzed and compared with drought records to evaluate potential correlations. Results reveal six significant droughts (1200-1500 CE): three prolonged (~20 years) and three shorter (5-6 years). The 1222-42 drought was particularly severe in QH and RGSJ, while NL experienced sustained deficits from ~1350-1400. Defensive settlements, signaling conflict onset, emerged in RGSJ (1205-1261), QH (1236-1311), and NL (1271-1340). NL’s vulnerability stemmed from its reliance on dry farming; pressure to access irrigated valleys to the east and south likely triggered early conflicts in RGSJ, which later spread to QH and NL, reflecting both environmental stress and inter-ethnic rivalries. Environmental deterioration affected each region differently, depending on resource availability and economic vulnerability. Adaptive strategies—labor intensification, area expansion, irrigation, and resource redistribution—required new political agreements to secure cooperation across regions. However, the absence of such interregional accords led to persistent conflicts for two centuries until Inca integration.

ID: 3.11591

Social relevance of glaciers water supply in the Central Andes (~33ºS)

Sebastián Andrés Crespo
Rybertt Goldammer, Justinne; Palmisano, Tomás; Lavergne, Celine; Lo Vecchio, Andrés; Muñoz Gaete, Luis; Fernandoy, Francisco; Vystavna, Yuliya

Abstract/Description

The Putaendo watershed (Central Andes, Chile) was home of pre-colonial inhabitants and the first Chilean town to achieve independence from the Spanish Empire in 1817. Besides its deep socio-historical heritage, this valley has special hydrologic features. It is one of the few examples in the Andes Cordillera where the inhabitants almost entirely rely on the water supply from the periglacial environment in a place with simple winter precipitation regime. This climatic feature, crucial for the discrimination of meltwater inputs when using natural water tracers, allowed us to clearly characterize and quantify the water inputs separately from precipitation using physicochemical analysis. This valley has severely suffered the effects of the mega-drought since 2010, which drastically altered the water supply and strained the livelihoods of pastoralists and peasants to the limit. However, despite the deep decrease in precipitation recorded during the megadrought, the water continued flowing from the headwaters to the Putaendo River. To understand the origin of water, we quantified the contribution of different water sources (snow, rock glaciers and groundwater) in the basin by applying stable water isotopes and major ions. Additionally, a social perception study was carried out to comprehensively understand the popular knowledge regarding the water origin, the impact of the megadrought, climate change and potential mega-mining projects, as the last basin without this activity in the Chilean Central Andes. For an arid water cycle, the river, upstream the Chacrillas dam, results showed a marked predominance of water contributions from rock glaciers at their origin (56%), followed by groundwater (32.8%) and snow (11.2%). The inhabitants of the territory displayed a remarkable awareness and prior knowledge that was manifested when 45.5% of the respondents referred to rock glaciers as the main contributor of water during dry years. There was also a clear negative public opinion regarding the developing of mega-mining projects in the valley (84.1%). The perceptions describe a complex process of social problematization around water scarcity that together with the advanced knowledge on the contribution of the different water sources supply provide key information for regional water security management.

ID: 3.12543

Understanding Water Use Conflicts by Understanding the Interplay between Society and Water: the Concept of “Water Culture”

Carlotta Sauerwein-Schlosser

Abstract/Description

Mountain areas such as the Alpine region are confronted with periodic water scarcity as a result of climatic changes and simultaneously intensifying forms of water use. In this context the question arises as to how to deal with a shortage of water resources. In the European context, the prevailing opinion is that technical solutions can provide a remedy. By involving interest groups, economic water management is being reframed as ‘water governance’, with the potential to resolve conflicts over water use. However, existing research has largely overlooked how specific forms of natural resource utilisation are not only shaped by social structures, but also the extent to which these forms of utilisation in turn structure social order. The interaction between society and water thus leads to “hydro-social configurations”, and it is evident that including additional stakeholders in water use issues will have limited impact on conflict resolution. On the contrary, conflicts are intensifying due to dwindling water resources.

Accordingly, my PhD project aims to extend previous technical analyses of water supply and its institutional management with an in-depth analysis of the interplay between society and water resources in the Alpine region. To this end, I apply the concept of “water culture”, which has its origins in socio-ecological urban research. This concept takes account of the complexity of the matter by encompassing technical, legal and economic aspects of water as well as the social practice of water use and thus helps to explain underlying causes for natural as well as societal problems.

The utility of the “water culture” concept will be demonstrated through a case study I am conducting in the French department of Haute-Savoie (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region): the legal dispute over the construction of a retention basin in the municipality of La Clusaz, which for politicians represents the safeguarding of the water supply for the population and winter tourism and which for environmental associations stands for a massive intervention in the ecosystem. The application of the “water culture” concept reveals that the attribution of differing meanings to water has contributed to the escalation of this conflict.

ID: 3.12694

Adaptation Pathways to foster Water Governance under Climate Change in Mountain Regions: A case study from Valle dei Laghi (Italy)

Valentina D'alonzo
Robbiati, Giorgia; Cocuccioni, Silvia; Santato, Silvia; Castellani, Chiara; Carrer, Sebastiano; Andreoli, Elisa; Bressi, Francesco; Franceschetti, Nicolò

Abstract/Description

In mountain areas, climate change is altering precipitation patterns, reducing the availability of critical water resources through declining snowfall, glacial retreat, and changing hydrological cycles. This shift intensifies competition among water users (e.g. agriculture, hydropower and tourism), leading to controversies that challenge existing governance structures. Within H2020 IMPETUS project, the case study of Valle dei Laghi (Italy) exemplifies these tensions, where competing demands for irrigation, energy generation and environmental conservation require innovative governance solutions. This study implements a stepwise methodology to develop alternative adaptation pathways for sustainable water management, addressing seasonal water scarcity and competing resource usages in a mountain context. The methodology integrates climate and hydrological modelling with stakeholder engagement to move toward long-term sustainability of water management. Results indicate that the increasing pressure on water resources in scarcity conditions, particularly under high-emission scenarios, will lead to imbalances in the current regulated water supply system resulting in the need for new management frameworks and collaborative mechanisms. Different adaptation pathways are proposed to support a participatory governance, emphasizing coordination among stakeholders. The adaptation pathways combine different adaptation options, including integrating climate resilience into spatial planning, expanding water retention measures, and improving multipurpose reservoirs. Other options, such as waste water harvesting, water-sharing agreements and adaptive licensing for hydropower plants, are identified as critical solutions, though challenging, to balance competing needs. The findings underscore the necessity of embedding stakeholder negotiation mechanisms within water governance to ensure equitable and evidence-based decision-making. The case study demonstrates that, in a context where the water cycle is strongly influenced by the hydropower sector, adaptation options in the domain of planning, knowledge and capacity-building are essential to implement a wide range of physical, technological and nature-based solutions with measurable effects on water availability. Furthermore, by fostering cross-sectoral dialogue and enhancing institutional cooperation, mountain regions can navigate the complexity between water security, economic viability, and environmental sustainability.

ID: 3.13072

Discussions on droughts and glaciers on the two slopes of the central Andes (28.30°- 39°). Disputes over governance objects in the context of the new climate regime.

Facundo Rojas

Abstract/Description

This article makes a two-dimensional comparison and analysis of droughts, social production of water scarcity and glaciers in Chile and Argentina, in the Central Andes. On the one hand, a hydrometerological description is made of six localities, three on the Chilean side and three on the Argentinean side, where there are problems with water management and governance. Secondly, we analyse how water institutions (mainly state institutions), new social movements, environmental assemblies, indigenous communities, NGOs and economic actors intervene in the debates on water scarcity, droughts, conservation and use of glaciers and Andean water resources. Objects of governance, water and glaciers in this case, are understood as an abstraction of elements of the environment (whose boundaries and characteristics are usually defined primarily by the state) to make them legible and manageable (Allan 2017; Hellgren 2022). Governance objects, in this case, refer to the abstraction of elements of the environment (whose boundaries and characteristics are defined by the state) to make them legible and, consequently, to manage them in the context of climate change processes. In Chile, the Huasco River (Huasco Province, Atacama Region); Putaendo River (Putaendo Commune, San Felipe de Aconcagua Province, Valparaíso Region) and Bio Bio River will be analysed. In Argentina the Jáchal River (San Juan); the Upper Tunuyán River (Mendoza) and Nahueve river (Neuquén). On the one hand, the percentage of glacial contribution of these rivers will be studied, but also the environmental conflict and social participation in water policies.

ID: 3.13295

Dew Ponds in Albanian Alps: a sustainable water management practice in the cultural landscape of Shkrel

Liridona Ura
Shkreli, Eltjana; Jubica, Irhan

Abstract/Description

The Dinaric Arc, one of the prominent mountain ranges of the Mediterranean, includes the Albanian Alps, a transboundary region known for its remarkable biodiversity, particularly its flora. The region is home to approximately 1,500 plant species, representing 55% of Albania’s total flora, with 128 species being endemic. The case-study area of Shkrel (partly a Municipal Nature Park), Albania, located at the foot of the Albanian Alps and ranging from 400 to 2,400 meters above sea level, marks the transition into the Mediterranean climate zone. Despite having the highest number of rainy days annually, Shkrel’s productivity is limited by a thick stony layer (4-100 meters) and the absence of rivers, making water scarcity the primary challenge for livestock farming. To address this, local communities have constructed dew ponds, which provide drinking water for approximately 9,000 livestock nowadays. Dew ponds have become a significant landscape element in this highland region, yet they have not been sufficiently studied or recognized as such. A mapping of around 70 dew ponds (highest density at national level) conducted in 2022 revealed that many are no longer functional due to inadequate size, poor construction sites, hasty building practices, and the use of unstudied materials. With a shrinking population in the rural mountains’ settlements and livestock practices, impacts biodiversity and decline of cultural values. This study is driven by the lack of documentation regarding these ponds and the traditional construction practices. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive guideline on dew ponds in Albania, offering valuable insights for local communities and relevant professionals, while highlighting their significance in sustainable water management practices. Through desk research, community interviews, and field data collection, this study examines international best practices in dew pond construction, elaborates traditional methods, typologies and materials, and presents a newly constructed dew pond built with community participation in Shkrel. On a long-term perspective, this study emphasizes the recognition of dew ponds as integral elements of Shkrel’s cultural landscape and serves as an advocate for their preservation and conservation by further engagement from local communities and stakeholders.

ID: 3.19024

Providing Safe Drinking Water in the Himalayas: A Tale of Two Cities

Ravinder Nath Batta

Abstract/Description

Water contamination and the associated morbidity and mortality are among the major areas of concern for the planners and policy makers in the developing countries. Situation in the Himalayan region is no different. The Himalayan region represents one of the most dynamic and complex mountain systems and extremely vulnerable to global warming. Preliminary studies indicate that temperature increases are greater during the winter and autumn than summers and the increases are larger at higher altitudes. Climate change is severely impacting the hydrological cycle and, consequently, water management by substantially affecting both water resource availability and quality. Increased water-related risks associated with the changes in frequency and intensity of extreme events put additional strain on water resource management and increase uncertainty about quantity and quality of water supplies. This is further expected to increase the health effects of water and in turn the morbidity-induced income and welfare impacts by increasing the burden of out of pocket medical expenses and loss of earnings. Thus, water governance, distribution and water quality are all very important from the public health and human welfare perspectives.
This study focuses on the analysis of water quality in the two major cities in the western Himalayas namely Shimla and Kathmandu. Divided in four parts, part II of the paper presents the study context and problem diagnostics. Part III is devoted to key concerns and the way forward. Finally, part IV presents’ conclusions and the research agenda. It is argued that among the factors that are responsible for this outcome are: primitive water treatment technologies, lack of good sanitary practices, lack of ecosystem focused water governance, and absence of effective water quality monitoring and surveillance. Therefore, effective water and sanitation management requires a holistic approach that takes a multidimensional view beyond the traditional confines of technology.

FS 3.175: Adding value to wool, from globalization to the circular economy: which opportunities for mountain regions?

FS 3.177: From Experiences of Loss to Transformation: Reimagining Mountain Areas in Times of Crisis and Beyond

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.176

Water Scarcity and Governance Approaches

Details

Full Title

Scheduled

Location

Convener

Co-Conveners

Assigned to Synthesis Workshop

Thematic Focus

Keywords

Description

Submitted Abstracts

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

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