For centuries, Iranians have developed methods and initiatives aimed at adapting to their arid and semi-arid homeland. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the levels of indigenous ecological knowledge and adaptive local initiatives for water resource management in the Gezir plain, located in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. The methodology of this study is survey-based, and the required data were collected through direct observation, participant observation, and in-depth interviews with 173 elite floodplain users. Local initiatives in the Gezir plain originate from the interaction of people with their surrounding environment, within the framework of indigenous communal institutions, based on values, norms, culture, and the region's social capacity, in order to adapt to water scarcity. The social system of this plain, by adopting strategies adapted to environmental conditions, has developed local surface runoff harvesting initiatives such as Maqsam structures, Algah, Yurad, Al, Band, and Nozu well. Therefore, it can be stated that indigenous ecological knowledge in the Gezir plain is a dynamic knowledge, developed through interaction with nature, that remains committed to the principles of long-term water resource management. This study, in addition to analyzing the levels of indigenous ecological knowledge and local innovations compatible with water resource management in the Gezir plain, emphasizes the importance of preserving and introducing this knowledge to similar ecosystems and territories. It underscores that such knowledge, alongside formal scientific knowledge, plays a significant role in the successful and sustainable implementation of water resource management programs, particularly at the local scale.