Framework for Reforming the Water Governance Structure (Case Study: Ferdows Plain)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

The water crisis in the Ferdows plain over recent decades has emerged as one of the key challenges to sustainable development in the region. Increasing demand, weak institutional coordination, and the absence of transparent and accountable mechanisms are among the main factors exacerbating the crisis. This study, using a qualitative approach and drawing on adaptive governance components, proposes a reformative framework for water resource management and governance. The proposed framework is based on principles such as direct stakeholder participation in decision-making processes, establishment of hybrid reward and sanction systems to enhance rule compliance, institutional transparency through digital platforms, multi-level accountability, and data-driven adaptive management. The findings indicate that implementing such a framework can rebuild trust between the government and water users, promote sustainable water consumption, and reduce violations. Moreover, the adaptive governance approach increases institutional flexibility in response to environmental and social changes and strengthens continuous learning capacity in resource management. The proposed framework is generalizable to other crisis-affected plains in the country and can serve as a foundation for redesigning macro-level water governance policies. The results of the study show that simultaneous attention to scientific principles of governance and local social capacities is a key condition for achieving sustainable water resource management.

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