IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ieaple/v21y2021i4d10.1007_s10784-021-09538-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evolving together: transboundary water governance in the Colorado River Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Mariana Rivera-Torres

    (University of Arizona)

  • Andrea K. Gerlak

    (University of Arizona)

Abstract

Transboundary collaboration between the United States (US) and Mexico in the Colorado River Basin has heightened in recent years, as climate change, population growth, and overallocation threaten the long-term stability of the region. Through a combination of document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, we examine patterns of change in the governance of the Colorado River, as the US and Mexico navigate socioeconomic, cultural, and political asymmetries to jointly share water over the past two decades. We ask: What key events and environmental agreements have influenced transboundary water governance in the Colorado River over the past 20 years? We draw on the rich scholarship on transboundary water governance, especially around international river basin organizations, to uncover patterns of engagement and collaboration over time. We focus on the binational scale with an eye to study governance at multiple scales including interactions and impacts at the national and subnational scales. Our findings illustrate how Mexico’s role has evolved from a narrow one following a strict interpretation of the 1944 Treaty toward a more creative partnership between the US and Mexico demonstrated in binational negotiations and the creation of joint solutions to emerging challenges around water conservation and ecological restoration. We find transboundary water governance in the basin is influenced by both long-term and short-term contextual changes that can inform strategies key actors employ to bolster institutional resilience and take advantage of opportunities for transformative change. Further, we find that the evolution of the binational relationship is reflected in changes in the negotiation process and structure, which highlights the importance of trust and relationship building, transparency, joint fact-finding, and information sharing to foster collaboration. However, we also find uneven institutionalization of stakeholder participation and transparency in engagement patterns that may ultimately, serve to hinder governance and cooperation in the basin.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariana Rivera-Torres & Andrea K. Gerlak, 2021. "Evolving together: transboundary water governance in the Colorado River Basin," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 553-574, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:21:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10784-021-09538-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-021-09538-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10784-021-09538-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10784-021-09538-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helen Ingram, 2006. "Water as a multi-dimensional value: implications for participation and transparency," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 6(4), pages 429-433, December.
    2. Inga Jacobs, 2012. "A community in the Orange: the development of a multi-level water governance framework in the Orange-Senqu River basin in Southern Africa," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 187-210, May.
    3. Mark Giordano & Alena Drieschova & James Duncan & Yoshiko Sayama & Lucia De Stefano & Aaron Wolf, 2014. "A review of the evolution and state of transboundary freshwater treaties," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 245-264, September.
    4. Aarti Gupta, 2010. "Transparency in Global Environmental Governance: A Coming of Age?," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 10(3), pages 1-9, August.
    5. Ramiro Berardo & Andrea K. Gerlak, 2012. "Conflict and Cooperation along International Rivers: Crafting a Model of Institutional Effectiveness," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 12(1), pages 101-120, February.
    6. David Grey & Claudia Sadoff & Genevieve Connors, 2016. "Effective Cooperation on Transboundary Waters," World Bank Publications - Reports 24047, The World Bank Group.
    7. Vicente Sanchez & Alfonso A. Cortez-Lara, 2015. "Minute 319 of the International Boundary and Water Commission between the US and Mexico: Colorado River binational water management implications," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 17-27, March.
    8. Stefan Lindemann, 2008. "Understanding Water Regime Formation-A Research Framework with Lessons from Europe," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 8(4), pages 117-140, November.
    9. Mark Zeitoun & Ana Elisa Cascão & Jeroen Warner & Naho Mirumachi & Nathanial Matthews & Filippo Menga & Rebecca Farnum, 2017. "Transboundary water interaction III: contest and compliance," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 271-294, April.
    10. Uta Wehn & Kevin Collins & Kim Anema & Laura Basco-Carrera & Alix Lerebours, 2018. "Stakeholder engagement in water governance as social learning: lessons from practice," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 34-59, January.
    11. Mark Zeitoun & Naho Mirumachi, 2008. "Transboundary water interaction I: reconsidering conflict and cooperation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 297-316, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Imikendu Imbwae & Shankar Aswani & Warwick Sauer & Clinton Hay, 2023. "Transboundary Fisheries Management in Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA): Prospects and Dilemmas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Naho Mirumachi & Margot Hurlbert, 2022. "Reflecting on twenty years of international agreements concerning water governance: insights and key learning," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 317-332, June.
    2. Tobias Renner & Sander Meijerink & Pieter Zaag & Toine Smits, 2021. "Assessment framework of actor strategies in international river basin management, the case of Deltarhine," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 255-283, June.
    3. Joyeeta Gupta & Aarti Gupta & Courtney Vegelin, 2022. "Equity, justice and the SDGs: lessons learnt from two decades of INEA scholarship," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 393-409, June.
    4. Abby Muricho Onencan & Bert Enserink & Bartel Van de Walle, 2019. "Sustainability Indicators: Monitoring Cross-County Water Cooperation in the Nzoia River Basin, Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-30, January.
    5. Bunyod Holmatov & Jonathan Lautze & Jusipbek Kazbekov, 2016. "Tributary-level transboundary water law in the Syr Darya: overlooked stories of practical water cooperation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 873-907, December.
    6. Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman & Itay Fischhendler, 2018. "The weakness of the strong: re-examining power in transboundary water dynamics," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 275-294, April.
    7. Bunyod Holmatov & Jonathan Lautze, 2016. "Thinking inside the basin: scale in transboundary water management," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 40(3), pages 127-138, August.
    8. Mohsen Nagheeby & Jeroen Warner, 2018. "The geopolitical overlay of the hydropolitics of the Harirud River Basin," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 839-860, December.
    9. Ansink, Erik & Gengenbach, Michael & Weikard, Hans-Peter, 2012. "River Sharing and Water Trade," Climate Change and Sustainable Development 122860, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    10. Paula Hanasz, 2017. "A Little Less Conversation? Track II Dialogue and Transboundary Water Governance," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(2), pages 296-309, May.
    11. Buchs, Arnaud & Calvo-Mendieta, Iratxe & Petit, Olivier & Roman, Philippe, 2021. "Challenging the ecological economics of water: Social and political perspectives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    12. Fouad Khan & Benjamin K. Sovacool, 2016. "Testing the efficacy of voluntary urban greenhouse gas emissions inventories," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 141-154, November.
    13. Teresa Kramarz & Susan Park, 2016. "Accountability in Global Environmental Governance: A Meaningful Tool for Action?," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, May.
    14. Diana Suhardiman & Mark Giordano, 2012. "Process-focused analysis in transboundary water governance research," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 299-308, September.
    15. Fred Gale & Francisco Ascui & Heather Lovell, 2017. "Sensing Reality? New Monitoring Technologies for Global Sustainability Standards," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 17(2), pages 65-83, May.
    16. Andrew Kliskey & Paula Williams & David L. Griffith & Virginia H. Dale & Chelsea Schelly & Anna-Maria Marshall & Valoree S. Gagnon & Weston M. Eaton & Kristin Floress, 2021. "Thinking Big and Thinking Small: A Conceptual Framework for Best Practices in Community and Stakeholder Engagement in Food, Energy, and Water Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    17. Mark Giordano & Diana Suhardiman & Jacob Peterson-Perlman, 2016. "Do hydrologic rigor and technological advance tell us more or less about transboundary water management?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 815-831, December.
    18. Zhiwei Wang & Qiang Liu & Bo Hou, 2022. "How Does Government Information Service Quality Influence Public Environmental Awareness?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Zulfiya Suleimenova, 2020. "Water security in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 27(1), pages 75-93, June.
    20. Biermann, Frank & Gupta, Aarti, 2011. "Accountability and legitimacy in earth system governance: A research framework," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1856-1864, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:21:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10784-021-09538-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.