Regulations on the protection of waters in the Uri Centre area between Silenen and Göschenen - Purpose

1. This regulation aims at the unmitigated and comprehensive preservation of sensitive water systems in the Uri Mitte region between Silenen and Göschenen as habitats for rare and protected animal and plant species, plant communities, and animal communities, and as vital elements of a diverse landscape.

2. It adheres to the provisions of the Protection and Utilization Concept for Renewable Energies in the Canton of Uri (SNEE) and implements them.

1. The following objects are placed under protection

Object No. 1: Etzlibach, Municipality of Silenen

Object No. 2: Fellibach (Upper Course), Municipality of Gurtnellen

Object No. 3: Voralpreuss, Municipality of Göschenen

Object No. 4: Chelenreuss, Dammareuss, Municipality of Göschenen

Object No. 5: Chärstelenbach (Upper Course), Municipality of Silenen

Object No. 6: Brunnibach, Municipality of Silenen

Object No. 7: Gornerbach (Upper Course), Municipality of Gurtnellen

Object No. 8: Gorezmettlenbach (Upper Course), Municipality of Wassen

Object No. 9: Meienreuss (Upper Course), Municipality of Wassen

Object No. 10: Sustlibach, Municipality of Wassen

2. All natural water bodies in the Uri Mitte area between Silenen and Göschenen, which are not explicitly listed as usable waters or as usable waters with increased requirements in the SNEE and as protected waters under Article 2, paragraph 1, are also considered protected objects.

3. The object of protection is solely the actual water body. The legal provisions apply to the shoreline areas.

1. The protected objects shall be preserved undiminished for at least 40 years.

2. In particular, it is prohibited to

a) use the protected waters for energy generation

b) construct buildings and installations of any kind within the protected waters, unless they serve the purpose of protection

3. Reserved are works and construction measures necessary to ensure flood protection or to enable crossings for the development of the area (e.g., bridges or fords).

4. Small hydropower plants without grid feed-in (isolated operation), compensation plants, and drinking water power plants with grid feed-in may generally continue to be constructed and operated within the protected waters.

5. Existing power plants may continue to be operated without restriction within the scope of their concession. The optimization or expansion of existing power plants is still possible, taking into account the applicable regulations.

6. Existing, legally exercised uses and usage rights concerning buildings and installations within the protected waters also remain guaranteed.

1. The Government Council shall review this regulation if the federal legal foundations pertaining to environmental, water, nature, and landscape protection or energy in effect at the time of the protection designation have significantly changed in the meantime.

2. Only those changes that fundamentally question the objectives of the SNEE and fundamentally alter the balance between protection and utilization aspects are considered significant changes.

1. This regulation shall only enter into force together with the concession on the Chärstelenbach or on the Gornerbach.

2. It shall enter into force on January 1, 2016.