Subterranean Fishes of the World

6336

2023

119 pages

A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science ©Copyright by Maria Jose Iglesias Thome November 15, 2023. All Rights Reserved

This study examined water scarcity and vulnerability in Quintana Roo, along the northern Caribbean coast of Mexico where rapid growth of tourism in the past 40 years has limited the ability of rural and urban communities to obtain safe, reliable, and equitable access to water services and critical water infrastructure from the karst coastal aquifers. The objectives of this study were to examine (1) how water scarcity is understood in Quintana Roo, (2) the physical and social conditions may be affecting water scarcity in the region, (3) how communities are experiencing and responding to instances of water scarcity, and (4) who may be more vulnerable to experiencing water scarcity in the future. Eleven interviews were conducted with water users, watershed council members, and water civil societies in Quintana Roo in August 2022. Interviews were transcribed and coded based on frameworks for water scarcity and vulnerability adapted from the literature. Results indicate that tourism development and associated water use, and wastewater production have exacerbated water scarcity for Mexican water users in Quintana Roo, forcing many to seek alternative water sources. Weak water governance structures, inadequate public investment, social apathy for addressing water issues, and other factors have undermined the agency of water users to adapt to changing water conditions. These results imply that water scarcity is as much a social as a physical issue, often driven by institutional and social dynamics. The study concludes that repairing trust, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing community outreach, are critical actions for adaptive capacity building for water resources in Quintana Roo.

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