Regulations on the protection of waters in the Urseren Valley - Protection Objective

1. This regulation aims to ensure the undiminished and comprehensive preservation of sensitive aquatic systems in the Ursern Valley as habitats for rare and protected animal and plant species, plant communities, and animal groups, as well as enriching elements of a diverse landscape.

1. The following objects are placed under protection

Object No. 1: Sidelenbach (above the pass road), Municipality: Realp

Object No. 2: Tiefenbach (above the pass road), Municipality: Realp

Object No. 3: Muttenreuss, Municipality: Realp

Object No. 4: Unteralpreuss, Municipality: Andermatt

Object No. 5: Bortwasser with Schatzbächen, Municipality: Andermatt

Object No. 6: Guspisbach, Municipality: Hospental

Object No. 7: Furkareuss (above the confluence with Sidelenbach), Municipality: Realp

Object No. 8: Witenwasserenreuss (above the catchment of KW Realp II), Municipality: Realp

Object No. 9: Vorderer and Hinterer Gatscholabach, Municipality: Realp

Object No. 10: Wysstälerbach, Municipality: Realp

Object No. 11: Stellibodenbach, Municipality: Realp

2. All natural water bodies in the Ursern Valley, which are not explicitly listed as usable waters, usable waters with increased requirements in SNEE, or as protected waters under Article 2, Paragraph 1, are also considered protection objects.

3. The location and delimitation of the protection objects are derived from the plan in the annex, which is an integral part of these regulations.

1. The protected objects are to be preserved without diminishment.

2. It is especially prohibited

| | | | |

| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| a) | to use the protected waters (SR [814.20](https://db.clex.ch/link/Bund/814.20/de)) for energy production | | |

| | | | |

| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| b) | to erect buildings and installations of any kind within the protected waters unless they correspond to the conservation purpose | | |

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 (island operation), compensating power plants, and drinking water power plants with grid feed-in can generally continue to be built and operated in the protected waters.

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

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

1. The Guspisbach has already been placed under protection within the framework of a water protection legal protection and utilization plan in connection with the residual water regulations for the Lucendro power plant.

2. After the expiration of the Lucendro concession in 2024, the Guspisbach may again be used as a compensatory water body for a protection and utilization plan.

1. This regulation shall be in effect for at least 40 years from the date of its entry into force.

2. The minimum duration is conditional upon the legal issuance of the concession for the use of the Witenwasserenreuss and the corresponding construction permit.

3. An early amendment of the regulation is possible if the federal legal foundations applicable at the time of the protection designation in the fields of environmental, water, nature and landscape protection, or energy have since undergone significant changes.

4. Only changes that question the objectives of the SNEE and fundamentally alter the balance between protection and usage aspects shall be considered significant changes.

1. This regulation enters into force upon the issuance of the legally binding water use concession and the legally binding construction permit for the Realp II hydroelectric power plant.