The Transformation in Muang Fai Communities of the Ping River Basin Chiang Mai Province (1994–2025)

Abstract

This research examines the transformation of Muang Fai communities in the Ping River Basin, Chiang Mai Province, under the pressures of urbanization and changing livelihoods. It hypothesizes that the decline of the Muang Fai system did not result from structural failure of the weirs themselves, but from broader changes in urban structure and land use. Historically, the Muang Fai system functioned as a community-based mechanism for agricultural water management and as a cornerstone of local social relations. As agricultural land was progressively converted to residential and urban uses, agriculture-based livelihoods declined, leading to the gradual neglect and transformation of the system.

The study employs qualitative methods combined with spatial analysis. Five Muang Fai communities were selected across different land-use contexts defined by the Chiang Mai Comprehensive Plan (2012), representing commercial, low-density residential, medium-density residential, conservation, and agricultural zones. The research analyzes land-use change during 1994–2025, reviews multiple comprehensive plans (1981–2024), and incorporates interviews with community members, water users, and state agencies.

The findings indicate that urbanization and land use change are key factors determining the status of the muang fai system. In commercial and medium-density residential areas, as well as cultural conservation zones, agricultural land and the continuity of lam muang (traditional canals) have significantly declined, while low-density residential and agricultural areas still retain partial use of the system. Urban development has altered spatial structure and lam muang as part of the traditional water network, affecting overall water system functioning more than the presence of muang fai itself. Overall, the transformation of muang fai communities is driven by urban structure, land use change, and water management policies rather than structural limitations of the system.