In winter 2006/2007 Mycelio will be starting a water assessment project in conjunction with the international organization Engineers Without Borders, as well as local government and community organizations. This project will last approximately 1 year with the likelyhood of ongoing work. The goal of the project is to aid the community in conducting the first-ever assessment of fresh water resources in the area, including:

1. Identification and assessment of available water sources locally and regionally. For standing or running bodies of water, analyze the present and future expectations for rights, quality, and feasibility/cost of public access. For existing wells, determine seasonal and long-term trends in rainfall, water table depths, and identify areas where quality is at risk due to encroaching salinity or chemical runoff.

2. Determine total current consumption and breakdown with respect to use (i.e., residential, commercial, farm irrigation, etc.) Compare current consumption patterns to past consumption patterns based on available data. Attempt to estimate future consumption based on development trends. Compare consumption patterns and estimates of future demands on water use with actual usage in other similar high growth areas.

3. Estimate carrying capacity of the region with respect to water use given current usage patterns. Determine how carrying capacity could be altered by implementation of conservation programs. Identify currently available technologies that might reduce waste. Create local consumption goals and establish a series of benchmark best-to-worst case scenarios.

4. Provide the community with concrete suggestions as to how pricing strategies, conservation programs, better technologies, and/or other incentives or penalties could be used to realize best-case scenarios. Identify possible pricing schemes based on information from other areas. Discuss alternatives for education, incentives, etc.

The bulk of the investigative work will be done in the first 6 months, followed by a roughly equivalent period of time in which we work with the community towards achieving specific goals through policy changes and local programs.

Background

The Costa Chica consists of the coastal communities of Puerto Angel, Zipolite, San Agustinillo, and Mazunte. The water needs of these communities are met by a variety of sources, none of which are at risk of being significantly depleted in the next few years based on current use rates. Access to water is managed by community members who are elected democratically. Although water usage is metered and measured, in some areas usage rates are currently set at a monthly fee regardless of quantity used, providing no incentive to conserve water or to reduce consumption. However, the community members who are currently responsible for managing water access have realized that this is unsustainable given development trends. In order to avoid a potential crisis in the future, Mycelio is sponsoring this project to help these communities accurately value their water resources, and better manage them for the long term using a variety of strategies including efficient technology investment, appropriate pricing schemes, financial planning, and implementation of conservation education programs.

Dissemination of Results

Project findings and the results of our analyses will be developed into a set of web-based resources that can be used by these communities to support decision making. Mycelio will maintain these resources on an ongoing basis. These publicly available resources will likely include elements such as:

• Interactive maps indicating trends in rainfall and water table depths, chemical or other contamination, etc.
• Links to case studies of other towns that have experienced or are currently experiencing water problems due to rapid growth and development.
• Reference pages with information about pricing strategies, incentive/penalty structures, and other methods currently in use in other areas.
• Interactive charts indicating present, past, and estimated future consumption patterns.
• Educational information promoting water conservation.

Project Components

The project will have a research component, a development component, and an educational component. These components may be carried out by different teams of individuals who are associated with the project for shorter periods of time.

The research component will involve analyzing current and historical data with respect to water availability, water table depths, yearly rainfall, usage rates, rates of growth, etc. It will also involve analyzing some historical data for other locations similar to these communities. The research component will also undertake an assessment of the physical infrastructure and technological systems in use, and identify any technologies and tools that could be used to improve this infrastructure. Parts of this component of the project will be done in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders.

The development component will involve putting the results in a form that is accessible by and useful to the community. This is envisioned as a web site that Mycelio will maintain with the active participation of the community, as described above. This web site will not only support decision-making, but also serve as basis for community education, i.e., incorporation in school projects, etc.

Following development, the educational component will involve determining appropriate strategies for establishing a greater awareness of water issues in the region and influencing local policy. It will take the data from the research component and the tools developed in the development component and with the aid of the community, put together a pilot conservation program that will encourage appropriate use.

Request for participation

Mycelio is currently putting together teams of researchers to undertake this project, and is seeking qualified individuals who are interested in participating in this unique opportunity. Most likely, different individuals will be associated with the project at different periods of time depending on availability. We are hoping to have 6-10 people involved in the project at any given time. Individuals who are available for the entire duration of the project are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given first preference if external funding is secured for later stages.

Ideal applicants would be doctoral candidates or post-doctoral researchers in an academic field related to one of the project areas such as water management, sustainable development, community organization or education, interactive web design/development, visual presentation of data, conservation, or similar. Applicants for the research component should have extensive experience in field research, data collection and analysis. Applicants for the development component should have some professional experience creating web-based tools and experience working with cross-functional teams. Applicants for the educational component should have some experience in community development or working with small communities, ideally in Latin America, and a background in conservation, environmental education, or similar program.

Preference will be given to applicants who are conversational in Spanish. Candidates should have exceptional written and verbal communication skills and enjoy working as part of a closely-knit team. No preference is given to country of origin and international candidates are encouraged to apply.

Mycelio will provide Mexican work visas for non-nationals for the duration of the project as well as support for any other bureaucratic requirements. Mycelio also provides office/work space with internet and phone access, as well as the use of the rest of our facilities. There is a wide range of accommodations locally, and we will be happy to help you find and negotiate an arrangement that works for you.

We welcome the participation of other organizations that are interested in being involved in some other capacity, such as through shorter-term sub-projects or incorporation into an academic course. A small number of internship or volunteer positions may be available. Feel free to contact us at info@mycelio.org.

Financial Support

Mycelio cannot currently offer any financial support to project participants. Selected applicants must be able to support themselves during their stay. We would be happy to provide whatever help and support we can to applicants seeking external funding. We are currently applying for funding for later stages of the project and it is possible we will be able to offer some compensation at a later date. Depending on the time frame, we may be able to offer inexpensive housing alternatives for participants.

Living expenses here range from about 5000 pesos (500$US) to 10000 pesos (1000$US) per month depending on your needs and tastes. Long-term house rentals run about 2500 pesos (250$US) a month, single rooms are cheaper, and rates fluctuate depending on the local economy. Accommodations can be made with local families, most of whom have a few hotel-style rooms for rent, which can include meals if desired. Food is also inexpensive, roughly 40-80 pesos (4-8$US) a meal in local restaurants. Cars and mopeds can be rented but are rarely necessary.

Application Process

Applicants should email a short (1 page) cover letter to waterproject@mycelio.org requesting to participate in the project.

At the beginning of the email please state which component(s) of the project you are interested in participating in, the approximate date you would be able to start, and how long you would be able to stay. Participants staying for multiple months will be able to take time off periodically. Note that as yet the project still does not have an official starting date. Unusual scheduling needs may be accomodated.

In addition, please be sure your email explains what your background is, how the project fits into your current or desired future work, and anything you need from us. If you are building this into a thesis or dissertation project, please explain what your topic is and what kind of support you need. For example, if you are interested in how the internet can be effectively used as a organizational tool in illiterate communities, you may want to collect some additional information for your needs that is outside the immediate scope of the project. We'll need to know specifically what you hope to do, how you would like us to help, how much time you need off-project, etc.

Note that applicants are advised to discuss required vaccinations with their doctors at least 60 days in advance of their departure date.