For each reservoir, according to the laws of the Russian Federation, there is a special protected area, which is adjacent to the shores and on which there are different restrictions on activities. This article will explain in detail what a water protection zone is. And also what rules should be observed while staying in this territory.
Terms
A water protection zone is a protected area adjacent to the shoreline of a water body. For example, it can be near a lake, river, sea, stream, reservoir. On this territory, special rules are established for conducting business or any other activity. They are aimed at preserving the ecological state of the water body, protecting its water and biological resources, preventing pollution, silting, and drying out.
Water protection zone starts from the coastline. The coastline is, in fact, the boundary of the water body itself. At the sea, it is determined by a constant water level. If it is constantly changing, the coastline runs along the boundary of maximum low tide. At the river, canal, lake and stream this line is determined by the average water level in the ice-free period for many years. Coastline - an area that stretches along the coastline, is intended for general use. Its width for larger water bodies is 20 meters, and for streams or rivers less than 10 kilometers long - 5 meters.
Within the water protection zone, a coastal protective strip is also established, where additional restrictions apply for the conduct of any activity.
The concept
This concept appeared in the Soviet Union with the decree of the Central Executive Committee (the supreme body of state power), issued in 1936. This decree established a specific forest management regime in the basins of such significant and large rivers as the Volga, Ural, Dnieper, Don. There was a special list of rivers, at a distance of 20, 6 and 4 kilometers from which deforestation was prohibited. Violators were prosecuted. Since then, the concept of “water protection zone” has remained in the legislation. But at the same time it has overgrown with its specific features.
What is currently prohibited in the water protection zone
In Russia within the limits of such territories it is prohibited:
- To extract common minerals that are used in industry and construction.
- Dispose and store pesticides and agrochemicals or use them.
- Discharge wastewater and drainage water.
- Place automobile refueling, fuel and lubricant warehouses (except for the territories of ports and places where the construction and repair of ships).
- Treat the area with chemicals using aviation.
- Locate cemeteries and cattle cemeteries.
- To bury radioactive and other wastes.
- Use wastewater to increase soil fertility.
- To move on vehicles and arrange parking, with the exception of paved roads and the use of specially equipped parking lots.
The boundaries of water protection zones
The width of the protected area may be different for water bodies. Borders are established after entering information about the water protection zone in the state cadastre, in addition, they are entered in the state water register. Borders are designated on the ground with the help of special signs, which are placed throughout the water protection zone and on the borders of coastal protection zones. Signs and warnings are set where the roads pass, in characteristic points of the relief, in places of rest for people and their mass stay.
The sign designating the water protection zone looks like a blue rectangle with a white informing inscription in the center. Its text should be visible during the day at a distance of 50 meters. He must always be in good condition. For damage to the mark administrative liability is provided. Of course, in any such zone, such a sign should be present, otherwise how can one know the boundaries of the water protection zone? Some people believe that since there is no sign, then there is no ban. This is a false statement, unlike signs on the road, a sign by a reservoir may or may not. The absence of a mark does not exempt citizens from possible liability.
Punishment for violation of the Water Code of the Russian Federation
For violation of the prohibitions established in the water protection zone, citizens may be subject to administrative punishment. This is a fine from 3 to 4 thousand rubles.
Reduction of the size of the water protection zone in the legislation since 2007
In January 2007, the new Water Code began to operate in Russia. From a legal point of view, the rules for establishing a water protection zone have changed significantly. The size of the coastal territory was greatly reduced. If before 2007 the width of the protected zone for rivers was from 50 to 500 meters, depending on the size of the water body, then after 2007 its size for the river cannot exceed 200 meters. If the river is 10 kilometers long, then the width of its water protection zone is 50 meters. If the length of the river is more than 10 kilometers, but less than 50, then the width is 100 meters. For rivers longer than 50 kilometers, the width of the water protection zone is 200 meters. And for a lake or reservoir, this area decreased by 10 times. That is, if before the water protection zone for the lake was 500 meters, then it became only 50. Such changes in the legislation, of course, are not encouraging. Indeed, the integrity and preservation of the ecosystems of water bodies, which extend not only in the water area, but also in the coastal territories, depend on the establishment of the water protection zone of the object. Not to mention the fact that the ecosystems of the forest near the lake inevitably affect the reservoir itself and its replenishment with water. In addition, uncontrolled deforestation and plowing of land near rivers can contribute to desertification of the territory, as happened in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers during the development of virgin lands with subsequent shallowing of the Aral Sea.
2015 Water Code
Currently, the rules established in 2015 in the Water Code of Russia are in force. The water protection zones of the river are established as before, their maximum width is 200 meters, and the minimum is 50. If a river or other water body has valuable economic value for fishing (spawning grounds, wintering of fish feeding), then the width of the protected area is established 200 meters in size. The boundaries of the lake’s water protection zone are 50 meters wide, depending on the size of the water area. The width of this territory on the coast of the sea is 500 meters.
Within the water protection zone of a river or lake, construction of economic and other facilities is permitted, provided that they are equipped with special facilities. They must protect the water from pollution.
Coastal shelterbelts are installed inside water protection zones. The stripes can have a different width, which is determined depending on the slope of the banks of the reservoir. For a zero slope - 30 meters, for a slope up to 3 degrees - 40 meters, and more - 50 meters. In the coastal zones of the water protection zone, plowing is prohibited. It is not allowed to place dumps of soil (subject to erosion) and grazing.
The protected area of Lake Baikal
If for each reservoir, stream, river or lake the protected area is prescribed in the Water Code, then an exception is made for Lake Baikal.
The sizes of the water protection zone around this unique creation of nature are indicated in a special federal law. This is the only body of water in Russia that has earned such close attention.
The Law on the Protection of Lake Baikal
So, in 1999, the law “On the Protection of Lake Baikal” was adopted. This document clearly indicated that the minimum width of the water protection zone for the lake should not be less than 500 meters. This value is conditional, since the shores of Lake Baikal are very steep and steep in some places (from the Irkutsk side in the west), and in other parts the shore is very gentle and swampy. That is, you can go closer to water than half a kilometer far from everywhere.
From 2002 to 2006, a draft of the boundaries of the water protection zone was prepared by the VB Sochava Institute of Geography SORAN (located in Irkutsk). It was developed taking into account the landscapes and hydrology of the shores of a giant lake, but was never adopted. The boundaries of the protected zone of Lake Baikal were not established in 2006.
Finally, on March 5, 2015, with the order of the Russian authorities, the borders of the water protection zone were nevertheless drawn. They began to pass along the borders of the Central Ecological Zone of the natural territory of Lake Baikal, thus coinciding with the boundaries of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The boundaries of the protected area of Lake Baikal today
No changes have yet taken place. Currently, the boundaries of the water protection zone of a water body (Lake Baikal) extend up to 60 kilometers from the coastline. Its area began to be 57 thousand square kilometers. But on this territory there are already 159 villages and towns in which 128.4 thousand people live. There are also 167 infrastructure facilities (engineering and social). There are also 40 locations for municipal solid waste. 540 kilometers of roads without hard surface with 28 automobile gas stations were laid, 40 cemeteries were located. The coastal water protection zone in some places is located several kilometers from the lake, the farthest point on the border is 78 kilometers from the coastline.
In the decree “On approval of the list of activities prohibited in the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory” of 2001, only three activities were prohibited. This is mining, the construction of various structures and blasting.
Since 2006, there have been more bans. It was no longer permitted to place graveyards and burial grounds for cattle, facilities for the storage or storage of all kinds of various wastes (chemical, poisonous, poisonous, radioactive). It is also forbidden to travel on vehicles, except on specially equipped paved roads, to park, except in special parking lots.
Attempts by the authorities to reduce the protected area
The authorities of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia tried to change the situation with the water protection zone of Lake Baikal. Attempts to change borders began, and a compromise was reached with the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. A new project was prepared taking into account natural conditions and the economic situation. Scientists were going to include in the water protection zone the territory from which water flows directly into the lake. These are the river basins that feed the lake, the borders go beyond the ridges in those places where there is a danger of mudflows, landslides, screes, block offsets. Pollutants drain and do not degrade the ecology of the lake. Are included in the territory of forests, swamps, valleys that are flooded during a rise in water level in Lake Baikal.
Thus, the water protection area is reduced from 57 thousand square kilometers to 5.9 thousand. If before the maximum removal of the zone border was 78 kilometers, then it will be 4-5. The project was sent to the authorities of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia for approval. In part, it was agreed, only for spaces between settlements. In the territory inhabited by people, it was proposed to draw a border at a distance of 200 meters.
In 2018, February 20, there was a meeting in the State Duma, where issues on the borders of the Baikal water protection zone were examined. They have not yet come to a consensus.