Abstract This study evaluates sustainability in the Huila Department in southern Colombia following the construction of two hydroelectric plants. This evaluation is based on the Sepúlveda (2008) sustainability analysis model, which is especially suited to Latin American rural territories. The importance of this evaluation of sustainability in the Huila region stems from the environmental crisis that, according to various regional stakeholders, has been caused by the construction of the two hydroelectric plants. The results of this investigation indicate that the sustainability of the region is at risk because of these hydroelectric projects.