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This paper aims to discuss the production of scales for transboundary water governance within the La Plata river basin. Firstly, transboundary water governance is distinguished from transnational hydropolitics because the first indicates the development of devolved scales at the border region in order to engage local and regional social actors in water governance. Secondly, transnational hydropolitics specify state-led arrangements build to organize international relations in transboundary river basin through diplomatic actions. La Plata river basin, the second biggest river basin in South America, encompassing areas of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay is known as a case of cooperative hydropolitical arrangements, at least since the signing of La Plata River Basin Treaty in 1969. However, stemming from climate change uncertainties, rising concerns about the water crisis and environmental disputes along transboundary rivers, sub-basins have been adopted as a salient scale for water governance within La Plata, specially from 1990 onwards. Even though transnational and transboundary scales are intertwined by hydrological network and institutional arrangements, its argued that current transboundary river basin initiatives focus on local water challenges. It is presented the case of Quaraí river basin, a sub-catchement at the Brazil – Uruguay border. This river basin has been the target of transboundary water governance initiatives since the beginning of 1990 decade. Moreover, the great importance of rice farms at river basin’s water use call for common action between Brazilians and Uruguayans.