Book excerpt: The basic concepts of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and the normative, strategic, and operative dimensions of the process are explained in simple, unbiased terms in this guide. Twelve case studies illustrate the scale and scope of river basin organization in different parts of the world--from local projects such as the Gagas River Basin to larger, transboundary basin work on the Mekong and the Rhine. Environmental considerations, institutional arrangements, and implementation processes are also highlighted to increase understanding of these concepts within the context of IWRM.