THE RHONE RIVER BASINAlex HoustonFebruary 23, 2012
LOCATION
BASIN STATISTICS
CountryArea in the
country (km2)
Country’s share (%) Population
Population density
(persons/km2)
France 90,000 92 14.8 million 156
Switzerland 7,739 8 1.2 million 159
Italy 50 -- -- --
Total 98,000 16 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 m3/s– Less than 100 m3/s in winter– Greater than 600 m3/s during summer– Flood events produce flows greater than 1000 m3/s
• Average annual discharge from Lake Geneva = 570 m3/s
• Average annual discharge into Mediterranean = 2300 m3/s– Flood event produced a peak flow of 13000 m3/s
• 7 billion m3 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• 1962- 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• 1976- 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
• 1987- 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 m3/yr• Supplies the Rhone with 1.9x106 m3/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?