Abstract A large number of indices and indicators of water performance at the basin level exist throughout the world, however, the need to generate tools that allow the monitoring of basins from their administration and water and environmental management, takes greater force in a global context where sustainability takes great importance. The GWI (green watershed index) methodology is presented, as an extension of urban control methodologies, but this time for rural watersheds. The method is implemented in some rural areas of Colombia, and in some cases the difficulty of implementing the methodology is evidenced, and in other cases the opportunity to improve the management and administration of water resources at the level of rural basins.