Bridges and Barriers to Adaptive Capacity - Climate Change and Water Governance: Adaptive Capacity in Chile and Switzerland - page 204

Scale Barriers Bridges

Local/User
level

Unchecked economic/irrigation growth outpaced water manage-
ment infrastructure (~ 20,000 ha increase in irrigated land, but
no increase in regulating infrastructure 'we are behind by
about 50 years') - incremental increase in potential stress
situations which cc will aggravate - but no resolution on the
horizon from infrastructure point of view. Major perception
that the dam will be the silver bullet for irrigators to manage
drought (even that they need more than one dam)

Water rights framework means the user-based management
approach is seen to be flexible for speedy adaptations in
times of increased scarcity (ref Tourno, proportional
distribution etc.)
Local sensitivity and experience to drought periods tends to be
high, despite lack of formal training, local farmers know
when to restrict the use, and what the necessary measures
are when they 'know' it will be a hydrologically scarce
growing season (said to be in their 'DNA')
Technical solutions to better management of drought are
potentially on the table (mix of regulation works (dam) and
unified water intakes to avoid water losses and improvement
of water distribution so that it is more exact)
Potential to mobilise cooperation around specific projects or
threats, despite lack of collaboration across different
economic sectors in general water resources/river basin
management (e.g. mining companies are more interested
now in being involved with the Aconcagua Project - earlier
they were sceptical, but more recently have become more
open to the Junta's interest in coordination and therefore
need to understand their current and future potential water
use and timing of water use)

Lack of conservation mentality (i.e. water efficiency to save
water) - incentives for farmers are to increase efficiency for
expansion of irrigation, not to decrease water use (and costs);
users do not pay volumetric fee for water, but charges for
distribution and infrastructure - no associated 'cost of water'
to incentivise water efficiency
Illegal abstractions are common place (particularly in Section 2
of the basin), impeding fair and proportionate distribution to
the rights; additionally, illegal abstraction and use of
groundwater (illegal wells) is seen as the solution to droughts
(mal-adaptation)
Difficulty in enforcement of illegal activities (illegal abstraction;
dumping of trash in water ways) at the municipality level (i.e.
requesting an inspector to enforce), which further stresses
water ways during drought periods; mistrust towards DGA
and DOH to enforce regulations and protect water resources
(e.g. DOH decisions to allow excessive extraction of gravel
from river bed, increasing vulnerability in times of drought)

(continued)