 Because CARs relies on the standards instituted by MADs, IDEAM, and INVEMAR are vital in maintaining Colombia’s water management.In 2002, Colombian government issued the Decree 1729 aimed at establishing water resource management at the river basin level including a timeframe and financial resources available for the elaboration of Watershed Ordering Plans (Planes Integrales de Ordenamiento y Manejo de Microcuencas – PIOM).IDEAM was responsible for elaborating a guide to inform river basing planning which was published in 2004.