Flood protection project near Samedan (Projekt Hochwasserschutz Samedan 2002 bis 2006)

Best Practice

Topics

• New forms of decision-making
• Governance capacity, Policies and instruments

Short description

Flood protection project near Samedan with three main goals: security, quality of life and nature. The ambitious participation project lead to broad public acceptance in regard to goals and measures of the project which are in line with the new sustainability oriented philosophy of the Swiss hydraulic engineering sector.

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Project executive

Village administration of Samedan; more information on: www.samedan.ch/flaz

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Participants

Federal government (Federal Office for Water and Geology), local government, local authority offices of Grisons (particularly the road department section hydraulic engineering), neighbouring local authorities; representative of the local agricultural sector; environmental advisory commission consisting of representatives of environmental organisations, local associations (fisheries, bird protection), involved local cantonal offices (environment, regional planning, nature and landscape, forestry) and local authority representatives

Objectives

three main goals: security, quality of life and nature

Activities

Broad participation process involving federal and cantonal offices, local authorities, interest groups and the public; voting in the municipal council and public referendum in 2000; implementation of the project's measures between 2002 und 2006, e.g. enhancement of dam stability and renaturation measures

Process

Cooperation between the Federal government (Federal Office for Water and Geology), local government and the local authority offices of Grison (particularly the road department section hydraulic engineering) and neighbouring local authorities is contributing significantly to the success of this important project. Even from the start of the project the essential environmental questions were discussed in the environmental advisory commission, consisting of representatives of environmental organisations, local associations (fisheries, bird protection), involved local cantonal offices (environment, regional planning, nature and landscape, forestry) and local authority representatives, thus enabling this commission to submit its solution proposals during the early planning phases. Important sucess factors were also a continuous information of the local population on project alternatives, a regular consultation-hour offered by the municipal authorities and the involvement of a representative of the local population in the project's advisory board.

Results

broadly accepted project's goals and measures; smooth implementation process; structural measures to provide e.g.: flood security, moblity (new bridges), attractive recreational space; nature protection measures (pictures on: http://www.flaz.ch/inhalt/i_html/bilder/beilage_galerie.htm)

Evaluation

Process evaluation by Swiss federal institute for forest, snow and landscape (WSL), contact: Berit Junker (berit.junker@wsl.ch) and Matthias Buchecker (matthias.buchecker@wsl.ch); see publication below

Difficulties

To gain public acceptance for the substantial renaturation measures which were demanded by the Federal authorities to gain federal subsidies

Budget

18 002 155 (Euro)

Financial backer

Swiss federation, Canton of Grisons

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.flaz.ch/index.htm; pictures on: http://www.flaz.ch/inhalt/i_html/bilder/beilage_galerie.htm

Publication

Junker, Berit & Buchecker, Matthias (2006, in press): Soviel science contributions to the participatory planning of water systems - results from Swiss case studies. In: A. Castelletti and R. Soncini Sessa (eds.). Topics on System Analysis and Integrated Water Resource Management, Elsevier, Oxford, U.K.

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Positive impact of renaturation measures on fluvial ecosystem

Economic value added

Direct via constructive measures and improvement of local environment (tourism); indirect via reestablishment of flood security

Socio-cultural value added

Process: positive effect of ambitous participatory planning process; Results: enhanced life quality (e.g. security, recreational space, bridges)

Innovative content

Good example for a participatory negotiating process in the natural risk sector

Good governance

Expert-driven but transparent process with clear rules (project organisation, room for manoeuvre, public involvement)and broad involvement of all stakeholders (federal and cantonal offices, local authorities, interest groups and the public)

PR impact

big media interest due to project size and area of implementation (Engadin is a famous tourism area in Switzerland)

Multiplier effect / networking

Trough networking activities of federal and cantonal offices for hydraulic engineering and nature protection; also trough PR activities of nature protection organisation like WWF and Pro Natura after the successful implementation of the renaturation measures

Transferability

Process and project organisation well transferable

Further information