Water Resources Management (2005) 19: 23–36 C  Springer 2005 Characterization of Irrigated Holdings in the Terra Ch´ a Region of Spain: A First Step Towards a Water Management Model C. J. ´ ALVAREZ ∗ , J. J. CANCELA and M. FANDI ˜ NO Department of Agroforestry Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela. Lugo, Spain ( ∗ author for correspondence, e-mail: proyca@lugo.usc.es) (Received: 15 October 2003; in final form: 3 May 2004) Abstract. The European Union’s Water Framework Directive, and in Spain the National Irrigation Plan, call for the sustainable and integrated use of water resources. Here we report the results of a questionnaire administered to irrigation users in the Terra Ch´ a region of northwest Spain, as the basis for a water management model, and to allow identification of a representative subsample of respondents for ongoing monitoring of irrigation use in this region. The proposed management model should fulfill the dual aims of sustainable water management, namely to promote long-term social and economic development and at the same time ensure long-term environmental protection. Key words: integrated water management, irrigation communities, questionnaire, sustainability 1. Introduction Integrated water management, as currently understood, aims (a) to guarantee sus- tainable use of water resources, (b) to protect and if necessary restore water quality, and (c) to remove water-availability constraints on social development. In areas with significant irrigation, sustainable water management needs to achieve two goals simultaneously: maintenance of irrigated agriculture, and conservation of the asso- ciated natural environment (Cai et al., 2003). Water management should promote efficient water use with the key aims of achieving sustainable social and economic development, and of ensuring sustainable environmental protection (Bouwer, 2000; Shangguan et al., 2000). Throughout much of Europe, the demand for water resources is steadily increas- ing, so that it becomes essential to develop legislation to respond to this challenge and to conserve water resources for present and future generations. The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) extends protection to all water resources, with the aim of achieving good ecological status by the year 2015. The WFD establishes a water pricing policy in which the price charged to con- sumers (including agricultural consumers) reflects the true cost. In many regions, this would clearly imply reduced profits in irrigated agriculture (Berbel and G ´ omez- Lim´ on, 2000; G ´ omez-Lim´ on and Berbel, 2000).