To further advance water resource management, in 2000 the Cabinet established the "National Water Vision" framework, approved on July 25, 2000. This vision stated that by 2025, Thailand would have sufficient and high-quality water resources, managed through organizational systems and legal frameworks that ensure fair and sustainable water resource utilization, taking into account quality of life and participation at all levels.
The national water vision led to the establishment of the "National Water Policy," approved by the Cabinet on October 31, 2000. This policy, aligned with the 1997 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, guides integrated water management focusing on the coordination, development, and management of water resources alongside other related resources, while prioritizing environmental impacts to maximize economic and social returns.
The establishment of the "National Water Policy" following the reform of the civil service system at the end of 2002 led to the creation of the Department of Water Resources under the Act on the Reorganization of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies B.E. 2545 (2002) and the Ministerial Regulation on the Division of Government Agencies, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment B.E. 2545 (2002), published in the Royal Gazette on October 9, 2002. As a government agency, its primary mission is to manage water resources. The department is responsible for recommending policies, developing master plans, conducting research, developing conservation and restoration of water resources, and promoting and supporting public participation through river basin committees and sub-committees, in line with government policy. This aims to enhance the role of citizens in government work, from brainstorming and presenting opinions to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, thereby building acceptance of government plans, projects, and activities for effective and sustainable local development.
The Regional Water Resources Office 1 (Upper Chao Phraya River Basin), Lampang, was established in accordance with the Ministerial Regulation on the Division of Government Agencies, operating as a regional central government administration. Its office building is located at 555 Moo 15, Bo Haew Subdistrict, Lampang-Hang Chat Road, Mueang District, Lampang Province.
