The Water-managed Patterns of Local Irrigation System for Agriculture in Mae Khan Watershed, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research is a conceptual framework study of the water- managed patterns of local (Muang Fai) irrigation systems for agriculture in Mae Khan watershed area, Chiang Mai Province by using the model of Elinor Ostrom and Lertwicha and Wichainkhiew. The objectives were; to study the pattern of water resource management based on the topography, to study the factors affected the existing of water management patterns, and to study the development and the changes of water management patterns in Mae Khan watershed basin. The research methodologies were the field trip survey, questionnaires, and depth interview with the groups of leaders, water users, and community water management experts. The results of the study indicated that Lertwicha and Wichainkhiew’s concept, in terms of physical characteristics, economic, social, and government policies, was accepted as the factors affecting some parts of Ostrom’s water management pattern and model according to the adaptation of the study area related. There were six water management patterns for agricultural irrigation: (1) a household irrigation system, (2) chief or head of irrigation system, (3) irrigation organization system, (4) water user cooperative system, (5) water user association system, and (6) water user network system. Each system has similar internal factors which made up of 5 important elements: (1) water resources, (2) water delivery system, (3) water users, (4) rules, and (5) governance. This affected the differences of the 6 water management patterns mentioned. At present, the water management has been developed and changed all the time. From the examining, the results revealed that each water management pattern was appropriate to different ecologies and sociologies and also expressed that the water user network system in the basin which was just a newly development was accepted as a new water management innovation in form of institutional pattern in Mae Khan watershed, Chiang Mai Province.