Introducing the Case Study Areas: Hydro-climatic and Governance Contexts - Climate Change and Water Governance: Adaptive Capacity in Chile and Switzerland - page 107

Period Country developments Environmental law & principles Trend

1908: 24bis FC regulated the assignment of
concessions for the production of
hydroelectric power, the transport of
electricity, the charges to be raised by the
Cantons, and limited the use of water
bodies. Hydroelectricity production is
founded on the system of 'water
concessions', whereby the private surface
water owners at the communal level may
sell a 'concession' (right to exploit the
power of the water) for a given time
period (generally 80 years) for an annual
hydraulic fee (Clivaz and Reynard 2008 )
1912: water property rights defined in the
Swiss Civil Code
1916: Federal Law on the Use of Water
Power: improve electricity production
and supply - Federation now has the
superintendence over the use of private
and public water bodies for hydroelectric
power. Cantons retain responsibility to
allocate concessions and ability to profit
from the charges (within the framework
of the federal legislation)
Wahlen Plan: during WW2, strongly
promoted drainage measures, as a result
of which substantial areas were made
available for agricultural use

(continued)