Mexico Starts Indigenous Consultations on Endhó Dam Plan

Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources launched a consultation process for the ecological restoration of the Endhó Dam, highlighting how environmental policy, public consultations and local governance are increasingly shaping infrastructure, waste management and environmental remediation initiatives in Mexico. Recent opposition to a circular economy park project in Hidalgo underscores the growing influence of community consultation in determining the location and implementation of environmental and industrial projects, with implications for investors, waste management operators and infrastructure developers.

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Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), in coordination with National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) and community authorities, has launched a public consultation process for the Ecological Restoration Program in the area surrounding the Endhó Dam. The initiative forms part of the Mexican government’s environmental justice policy aimed at restoring territories affected by pollution, ecological degradation and socio-environmental inequality. 

The restoration program seeks to address accumulated environmental impacts in the region through soil recovery, water quality improvement, ecosystem rehabilitation and improved waste management. Authorities also aim to strengthen community well-being by incorporating local knowledge and participation into the design of restoration measures.

The consultation process will include a series of informational assemblies in communities located within the dam’s area of influence. Participating communities include Pino Suarez, Santa Maria Daxtho, Santa Maria Michimaltongo, San Miguel de las Piedras, General Pedro Maria Anaya, Xijay de Cuauhtemoc, Xiteje de la Reforma, La Loma, La Ermita, Santa Maria Macua, Xochitlan de las Flores, San Pedro Nextlalpan, Sayula Pueblo, San Mateo La Curva, San Francisco Bojay, Atengo and El Llano.

The first informational assembly took place March 7, formally launching the consultation phase, which will run through June. After this stage, the process will move to a deliberative phase in which communities will present opinions, proposals and recommendations related to the restoration plan.

According to SEMARNAT, the consultation process aims to ensure that ecological restoration efforts integrate environmental, social, cultural and economic considerations. Authorities said the participatory approach is intended to build long-term solutions that address environmental damage while supporting sustainable development and local governance.

The consultation marks the second such exercise organized by SEMARNAT in Hidalgo in the past six months. In December 2025, the ministry held a referendum on the Ecological and Recycling Park — also known as the Circular Economy Park — planned for Tula, Hidalgo. The project initially included converting the Francisco Pérez Ríos thermoelectric plant from fuel oil to natural gas, cleaning up the Tula River and its tributaries, and constructing a waste treatment center. 

The park was designed to integrate multiple recycling and reuse processes, including repurposing discarded tires for road construction, recycling damaged clothing to recover textile fibers, converting plastics into fuels or new products, and processing construction debris into cement for urban works. About 10 companies had expressed interest in participating. 

Ultimately, a citizen consultation in three Hidalgo resulted in a majority opposing the park’s installation. Of the votes recorded, 4,334 people (35.35%) supported the project, while 7,736 voters (63.10%) opposed it. According to official results released by the IEEH, voter turnout reached 8.77% of the eligible population. A total of 12,259 votes were cast from a nominal list of 139,831 residents across the three municipalities of Tula de Allende, Atitalaquia and Tlaxcoapan.

In a joint statement, SEMARNAT and the Government of Hidalgo acknowledged the impartial role of the IEEH and thanked residents for their participation. Officials noted that the exercise reflects the federal administration’s approach to participatory governance, summarized by the principle: “With the people, everything; without the people, nothing.” 

Following discussions with SEMARNAT, President Claudia Sheinbaum said the government would relocate the project rather than proceed without local support. “We conduct consultations; whether people want it or not, we respect their reasons,” she said. The project was later confirmed to be relocated to San Jose Chiapa, Puebla, where nearby communities would allegedly not be affected. 

Nevertheless, once the site’s location was confirmed, local farmers and community organizations in the surrounding Libres–Oriental Basin said they had not been consulted prior to the announcement. They argue the project was declared without prior engagement and have raised concerns about potential groundwater contamination and water scarcity.

According to these groups, the surrounding area has already experienced water stress linked to industrial demand, and a nearby landfill fire burned for several days in late February 2026. In response, they have announced plans to mobilize and pursue legal remedies, including injunctions, to challenge the project’s implementation.