Eugenio Barrios, WWF

Mario López, CONAGUA

New water management models in Mexico

Contributions

• Mexican standard of environmental flow (Norma Mexicana de Caudal Ecológico)

• Identification and feasibility analysis of water reserves

Water Reserve

National Water Law:

– Art. 41… the federal government could implement trough a decree the total or partial reservation of national water with the objective of ensure the minimal ecological flow for ecological protection.

– Art. 86 BIS 1, The Commission is allowed to…“promote water reserves or ecological reserve according to the law to preserve wetlands”

• Criteria for the identification of water reserves

Water availability and stress (management units) Biodiversity importance Water extraction restrictions Presence of hydraulic infraestructure (big dams) Agricultural Irrigation Districts Overexploited aquifers Population density

Water Availability Water

Stress Ecological Importance Restrictions

Aquifer overextraction

Population Infraestructure Irrigation Zones

7 Core variables

48 Secondary variables

728 basins with official water

balance

Resultado final y toma de decisiones

Análisis y refinamiento de la información

Escala o nivel

estratégico

GIS integration

Major Benefit o Reduce water users risk and support biodiversity conservation

100 % MAR

40 % MAR

…As an early adaptation measure:

Instrument to ensure environmental services and goods from the hydrological cycle that preserves the

funcionality and conectivity of ecosystems.

National Water Reserves Program for the Environment

o National System of water reserves

o Public-Private Initiative

o Budget: $10 Mill Dlls (20 water reserves)

o First water reserves to be presented at the 2012

World Water Day

Thank you

Gracias www.conagua.gob.mx

www.wwf.org.mx/reservas-de-agua