Managing irrigation systems in the italian Alps. The role of the community

Irrigation systems represent an important part of the traditional economy of the Valle d'Aosta. The transition to a modern economy has partially reduced their importance, however, more than 200 farmers-managed systems still exist in the valley. In this paper nine cases are studied using the IAD framework, and a special focus is directed toward the social elements affecting the performances of the systems. The action of the regional administration appears also to be a crucial factor to consider in the analysis, but further inquiries in this direction are still needed.