Introducing the Case Study Areas: Hydro-climatic and Governance Contexts - Climate Change and Water Governance: Adaptive Capacity in Chile and Switzerland - page 100

The communes are organised into a legislative council, an orientation body, and
an administrative council for a population of just under 300,000 (Valais 2009 ) . The
canton contains a number of different economic sectors (hydropower, tourism,
agriculture as well as chemical, biotechnology, IT & communications, aluminium,
electronics & micro-technology, metal industry), which requires a coordination of
water allocation for these different uses. It is one of the poorer cantons in Switzerland,
and is therefore reliant on federal subsidies for the implementation of projects.
Management of the canton's waterways is delegated across these 143 communes,
which in the Valais are significantly independent (Clivaz and Reynard 2008 ) for a
surface area of 5,224 km 2 (53.8% is unproductive land) (Valais 2009 ) .
Geographically, the Valais is characterised by an extensive valley corridor, which
separates the Northern and Southern Alps. The river Rhône flows through this
valley, eventually emptying into the Lake of Geneva (Lac Leman) at La Bretagne.
The topography is defined by the altitudinal contrast of the valley and river floor,
and the high mountain peaks, which influence the large precipitation differential
between the different areas of the Valais. As the clouds rise over the peaks, it forces
the water vapour to condense and precipitate. Since the valley is surrounded on both
sides by mountains that often exceed 4,000 m in elevation, this leads to very low
precipitation (some of the lowest in Switzerland) in the valley, and high precipitation
in the mountain areas. For example in some areas in the Vispertal (the area leading
from Visp up to Stalden), average annual precipitation is about 475 mm. Annual
demand however for the maintenance of the cultural and agricultural landscape is in
the range of 700-900 mm/year. In order to bridge this gap, 'Suonen/Les Bises'
(water conducts) have been built in many areas of the Valais to transport water from
higher altitudes to the more water stressed valley. 1

6.2.1 Climatic Detail

Climatic influences on mountain water resources are especially since climatic
changes are taking place within a broader context of rapid socio-economic transfor-
mation (Wiegandt 2008 ). Recent reports have indicated that Switzerland is becoming
more and more urbanised, agriculture is intensifying and mobility is increasing,
resulting in growing pressures on the environment (in particular bio-diversity)
from the intensity of consumptive patterns despite any gains from eco-efficiency
and environmental protection (FOEN 2007 ). Additionally, tourism has had a major
effect on the alpine environment, contributing to increased water usage (increased

1 Netting (1981) and Ostrom (1990) both have written at length about cooperation in the commons
in the spotty environment of the Valais. While rainfall and snowfall is high in one section, but
precipitation is low in another section, where it is very dry. Netting presented a detailed description
of the rules that were used in Törbel (just above Stalden) that farmers used to co-manage resources
through times or areas of plenty and of scarcity.