Water user associations in the Cauca Valley, Colombia:
A voluntary mechanism to promote upstream-downstream cooperation in the protection of rural watersheds

   Increase in dry season flow, reduction of floods and increase in annual streamflow through protection of upstream vegetation and reforestation

   6857.7 square kilometers

   Association of sugercane producers
   Regional environmental authority
   Municipal and state governments
   Farmers

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   Water fees from downstream users fund protection and restoration projects in upper watershed areas

This case presents a public-private partnership to protect watersheds that has developed in the Cauca Valley, an agricultural area in southwest Colombia. Due to a growing concern with the supply of water for agricultural purposes, large-scale agricultural water users in the valley decided to fund the implementation of watershed management plans developed by the Cauca Valley Corporation (CVC), the regional environmental authority. The projects benefit upland communities in the watersheds. This public-private collaboration can be an effective way to leverage results since the government authority has a wide base of support and input. Today, there are more than 12 Associations of Water Users, operating and implementing a wide range of activities in favor of upland communities.
A key feature of this case is the collection of voluntary fees, which has the benefit of mobilizing private funds for environmental protection. Members of the associations pay a fee according to their water concession. The funds are used to pay for activities to protect forests and vegetation cover in the highlands in order to increase flows and stabilize discharges during the rainy season. The level of awareness and commitment of water users who accept an additional user fee is inherently high. On the other hand, voluntary schemes can have the drawback of discontinuity. Considering that this experience has been underway for almost a decade, the Water User Associations and CVC face the challenge of reviewing their successes and failures and redirect efforts to insure the fulfillment of their environmental objectives.