THE RHONE RIVER BASIN Alex Houston February 23, 2012

LOCATION

BASIN STATISTICS Country Area in the country (km 2 ) Country’s share (%) Population Population density (persons/km 2 ) France90, million156 Switzerland7, million159 Italy50-- Total98,00016 million

SURFACE WATER USES 70% used for agriculture 15% for domestic use 15% for industry Hydropower in the Alps Cooling thermal and nuclear reactors in France Recreational Activities Navigation– from the Mediterranean Sea to Lyon

SURFACE WATER FLOW Average annual discharge of Rhone into Lake Geneva = 180 m 3 /s – Less than 100 m 3 /s in winter – Greater than 600 m 3 /s during summer – Flood events produce flows greater than 1000 m 3 /s Average annual discharge from Lake Geneva = 570 m 3 /s Average annual discharge into Mediterranean = 2300 m 3 /s – Flood event produced a peak flow of m 3 /s 7 billion m 3 stored annually – About 80% located downstream of Geneva

LAKE GENEVA 59.5% in Switzerland 50.5% in France Largest lake in Western Europe Only 3% of the lakeshores are still natural due to agriculture, industries, and urbanization

LAKE GENEVA TREATY International Commission for the Protection of Lake Geneva (CIPEL) formed – Organize surveys to determine the nature, extent, and sources of pollution – Recommend measures to the Governments to deal with existing pollution and to prevent any future pollution – Provide ground information for international regulations relating to cleanness of the water of Lake Geneva Joint Advisory Commission formed – The Parties agree that water and air pollution, as well as noise caused by navigation shall be prevented and penalized by the competent authorities of the Parties Council of Lake Geneva formed – Facilitates cooperation between Parties in economical, social, ecological, and infrastructure aspects

LAKE EMOSSON Treaty signed in 1963 between the governments to build hydro-electric facility Established a Standing Supervisory Commission Commission supervises the construction and operation Each country receives approximately 50% of the power produced

GENEVESE AQUIFER Supplies Lake Geneva with 789,000 m 3 /yr Supplies the Rhone with 1.9x10 6 m 3 /yr Main uses of the groundwater – 65% for domestic use – 25% for industry – 10% for agriculture New agreement effective January 2008 – Joint commission deals with use, recharge, and monitoring – Determine financial modalities governing the use of the resource

MIXED COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF ITALIAN-SWISS WATERS AGAINST POLLUTION Formed in 1972 Protect shared waters against pollution – To consider all matters relating to pollution of shared waters or to any other degradation – To organize and carry out surveys to determine the source, nature, and extent of pollution, and make use of data obtained – To propose measures to the Parties to deal with existing pollution and to prevent any future pollution

FUTURE ISSUES Climate change – Overall annual precipitation predicted to decrease by 5-10% – Increase of 4 °C in winter and more than 6 °C in summer by 2100 Increased hydropower production – Safety of hydropower – Economical attractiveness – Want to migrate towards environmentally friendly energy

QUESTIONS Is there anything we can learn from the Rhone River Basin and apply to other basins? What do you think is behind the cooperation of the two countries? Do you see anything in the future happening to break up the cooperation?