An Agroecological Approach to Quantitative Water Management in a Chronic Deficit Zone

The paper describes the development of an agroecological method to design and evaluate spatial arrangements of cropping systems in the low Aveyron watershed, which suffers recurring water deficits. Two participatory workshops involved farmers and water managers in co-designing land-use alternatives. Integrated modelling provided a shared, dynamic, spatially explicit representation of the watershed. Participants used this model to propose changes, while researchers simulated resulting impacts on water abstraction and river flow. The case study represents the first iteration of a continuous co-design process seeking efficient and socially acceptable water management solutions, and it fostered a collaborative attitude among stakeholders.