Tensions between Participation and Expertise in French Watershed Governance and Management

Abstract

"This paper assesses French fiscal and institutional approaches to watershed governance and management. These began, as large-scale, coordinated efforts, with passage of major water legislation in the country in 1964. This legislation constituted the first major French policy response to a 20th century challenge collectively identified by French hydrologists, water lawyers and other water experts. Though France is generally 'well-watered,' these experts argued that the country would be endangered within decades by growing shortages of potable water, and as well by inadequate supplies of water required to attain other objectives such as preserving riverine environments and the life forms there found; energy production; irrigation; recreation and tourism, and food production. To respond to this challenge French political decision makers created, by national legislation, six major watershed districts that covered the entire land area of metropolitan France as well as the Departements d'outre-mer and Territoires d'outre-mer (D.O.M.-T.O.M.). These were initially conceived, and functioned solely as, resource mobilization entities with a mandate to raise the funds necessary to finance construction of a wide range of water supply and sanitation infrastructure facilities."