Protection zone from reservoirs and rivers. Water protection zone of the river and its legal regime

Installed within city beaches or along the shores of reservoirs in rural areas. But not every person knows what a water protection zone is.

From the information posted on city stands, one can only glean information about the size of this very zone. As a rule, on these signs it is written: “Water protection zone. 20 meters."

The information content of such stands for people going on vacation to the shores of reservoirs is zero. Tourists, in principle, do not understand what a water protection zone is, what restrictions there are on staying in this natural area, how you can relax in such a place, and what you should never do. Therefore, you need to find out what it is yourself, and this should be done before the onset of hot summer days.

By what document are they determined?

Water protection zones are indirectly related to water itself. The explanation of this definition is stated in Article 65 of the Water Code of the Russian Federation. However, legal language is quite difficult to understand, and this article is no exception.

The article is quite voluminous and includes many nuances concerning not only the definition of the concept as a whole, but also the rules for specific natural areas, for example, Lake Baikal. In addition, separate paragraphs prescribe the arrangement of water and territorial objects.

It can be very difficult for a person who is not familiar with legal terminology and the peculiarities of the presentation of the text to navigate this law and “get” the necessary information from its content. The text is filled with footnotes, amendments, dates of their adoption and other similar additions to the main content.

What is it?

A water protection zone is the entire territory adjacent to any body of water at any location. Its length along a line perpendicular to the shore ranges from 50 to 200 meters. For natural monuments and protected areas, such as Baikal, the dimensions are set in a special order, figuratively speaking - individually.

Within this territory, a coastal strip of a water protection zone is established, which has its own boundaries. Regardless of whether there is an information board or not, each body of water that has a permanent channel or depression has its own riparian zone protected by law.

What is the purpose of these zones?

The purpose of creating, or rather isolating them from the general landscape of legally protected areas is to preserve the environment and microclimate of the water body.

That is, the presence of such zones prevents:

clogging;
shallowing;
siltation;
pollution.

This ensures the safety of water resources and prevents such phenomena as waterlogging and depletion of river and lake water sources.

In addition to the above, the coastal water protection zone provides:

microclimate integrity;
preservation of natural biological processes;
maintaining the living conditions of animals and other inhabitants, such as reptiles;
preventing the extinction of certain plant species.

Of course, there are restrictions on the types of activities and methods of recreation in such territories.

What is prohibited?

The entire water protection zone, coastal strips and areas remote from it are not a place for human economic activity. Although many people believe that the ban applies only to the activities of enterprises, farms, factories and other similar facilities, in fact, the provisions of the law are addressed to everyone. That is, they must be executed by both enterprises and individuals.

Forbidden:

fertilize soils with wastewater and carry out other types of drainage;
arrange all types of biological burials, that is, cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, cesspools, burying and draining food waste;
place for storage or dispose of toxic, explosive, chemical, poisonous, radioactive and other similar substances;
pollinate with chemicals from the air;
build gas stations, premises for the use of fuels and lubricants, with the exception of port areas and other water bodies;
use pesticides and other types of active agrotechnical substances and fertilizers in economic activities;
extract minerals, such as peat.

These regulations are often violated. Moreover, the violators are not the owners of farms or enterprises, but rural residents who simply do not know about this law.

Are such zones only in Russia?

For the first time in the USSR, such a concept as a “water protection zone” was introduced and legislated. It did not touch a water body, such as a port or pier, and had slightly different geographical boundaries than now. After the collapse of the USSR, in one form or another, the protection of coastal territories, ensuring the ecological cleanliness of water bodies, was preserved in all the former republics.

In Western Europe, Asia and the American continent there is no such thing as a water protection territory.

How are the boundaries of this zone established?

The starting point for determining the distance at which the border of the water protection zone will lie is the coastline. That is, the border between water and land. For bodies of water with variable indicators, such as seas, the maximum possible boundary of the tide line is taken as the basic starting point for measurement.

For a number of natural protected areas, slightly different rules apply. There are also separate additions related to artificially created reservoirs and reservoirs.

All data on the territorial boundaries of these protected areas are subject to mandatory recording in the State Cadastre. And besides this, all information about such zones is also registered in the State Water Register.

What might be the boundaries for river zones?

How wide the water protection zone of an object will be depends on its characteristics. For rivers and streams it is determined by length, and for lakes - by area.

The average, generally accepted, legally prescribed dimensions of protected areas for river beds and streams are as follows (in meters):

The depth of a legally protected area of 50 meters is set by default for not very long rivers or streams. The limit on the length of water channels with this size of the protective zone is 10 kilometers.

If the river stretches for a distance of 10 to 50 kilometers, then its natural protected zone will be larger. For such reservoirs, the depth of the legally protected ecosystem is 100 meters.

The water protection zone of the river, with a length of more than 50 kilometers, will go even further into the landscape. Its border will be 200 meters from the water line.

What might be the boundaries for zones of other bodies of water?

In the absence of any factors requiring an individual approach to determining the location of the boundary of the protected zone, its extent for lakes, reservoirs and seas is determined by the general requirements of the law.

The default water protection area for lakes and reservoirs is established with a length of 50 meters from the water line.

If the reservoir is a reservoir or reservoir created on the main watercourse, then the length of the depth of the protective strip must be no less than the width of this watercourse. Measurement is carried out at the widest point.

The default width of the protected sea strip on land is 500 meters.

How to behave in this zone?

Unfortunately, the laws that define the concept of “water protection zone” do not regulate the behavior of citizens relaxing on the banks of reservoirs. This is done by the Code of Administrative Violations, which states that:

You cannot leave garbage - plastic, glass, tin, hygiene items, etc.;
you should not throw a smoldering fire;
There is no need to scatter food waste to “feed” wild animals.

In addition to the basic postulates that determine behavior in nature, in the water protection zone you should be conscious and carefully read the general prohibitions. Most of them can also be interpreted for private weekend getaways.

What should you not do in this area?

Based on the general prohibitions listed in the law, it can be assumed that near the water line and on the shore within the boundaries of the water protection territory one should not do the following:

park a car, moped, scooter or motorcycle within the zone, and especially wash the vehicle;
bury and dispose of food waste;
to relieve oneself;
bury pets;
leave garbage, including parts of transistors, navigators or other devices that have become unusable;
use household chemicals and hygiene products, that is, soap, cleaning and washing powders, shampoos.

In order to wash your hands, it is quite possible to move away to a distance that is safe for the river ecosystem. If this is not possible, then you can limit yourself to wet wipes, which you will need to take with you along with the rest of the garbage.

Household chemicals, as well as various technical liquids spilled on the shore, disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem and poison the water, and therefore its inhabitants.

Anyone who has traveled out of town at least once has encountered the problem of finding a clean place on the shore of a small lake or river. It's no secret that our vacationing citizens leave behind mountains of garbage - from broken smartphones to hygiene products. This, of course, does not need to be done. But burying plastic bottles, cans or other types of waste on the coasts is also prohibited. You must take the garbage with you and throw it away at the nearest place equipped for its collection.

Is it possible to feed birds and animals?

This question is of interest to many people who are responsible for their own stay in nature.

Seals live in reservoirs, ducks with a brood of chicks swim on the surface, a fluffy squirrel jumps along a tree - such an idyllic picture is not uncommon in the suburbs of even large cities. Of course, there is a desire to treat all these living creatures with a delicious bun, meat, canned sprats or something else.

However, you need to remember that at the entrances to many protected areas there are signs prohibiting feeding of animals. This is not accidental and is not at all dictated by the fact that officials feel sorry for bread for ducks or peanuts for squirrels.

Feeding wild birds and animals leads to disaster in the local, individual ecosystem. Of course, if one person feeds the ducks a tasty loaf of bread once a summer, then nothing bad will happen. But if the place is popular for recreation, and every visiting tourist begins to feed the local inhabitants, then this will inevitably lead to the fact that birds and animals will stop eating what they are supposed to eat by nature. As a result, the number of insects, small fish or something else will increase. Thus, the balance in the ecosystem will be disrupted.

The use of the water protection zone is regulated by law; private construction is permitted in compliance with established standards. The owner of a plot of land located near various bodies of water has the right to develop, subject to construction restrictions.

The water protection zone of a water body has a special legal status; in order to avoid conflict situations, it is recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the current regulations.

The concept of a water protection zone

The current Water Code of the Russian Federation defines the concept of a protected area. In Art. 65 states that this land adjacent to the shore of the reservoir can be used for economic, construction and cultural purposes only subject to special conditions.

The law protects water bodies from pollution and damage, and guarantees the safety of animals and plants located there. Protecting the existing natural balance, the Water Code of the Russian Federation determines the rules of use, punishment for violation of adopted resolutions and regulations for the use of the water protection zone.

In order to avoid troubles that may arise after the completion of construction and when issuing a certificate of ownership, violations of the law should be prevented. When obtaining a development permit or registering home ownership, you will have to deal with unforeseen circumstances. The best option is to obtain prior approval and obtain permission rather than paying significant fines for proven violations.

The most serious option is when the developer receives an order to demolish the erected building, which can be extremely difficult to cancel. By law, the prohibition on construction in the coastal zone applies to 20 m from the water's edge. A nearby house or outbuildings may be demolished by court order.

It is prohibited to install fences and other barriers that prevent third parties from accessing the reservoir. Having fenced off part of the coastal zone and created additional inconvenience for citizens, the owner of the site will be forced to demolish it and pay a fine.

Do not forget that the liquidation work is paid for by the violator, and the funds are recovered from the perpetrator through enforcement proceedings.

Restrictions on construction in the water protection zone

The protection of the water protection zone is carried out in accordance with established standards. The approved shoreline is the starting point for all planning permission measurements. The use of the shoreline has restrictions on the implementation of various types of activities and depends on the distance from the source of the reservoir.

For example, the width of the strip on which construction is not allowed is is for rivers:

if it is less than 10 km from the source, then 50 m should be retreated from the water’s edge;
if 10-50 km, then construction cannot be carried out closer than 100 m;
if more than 50 km, then a retreat of 200 m is required.

The calculation of the indentation from the water in the case of lakes and other closed water reservoirs is carried out depending on the perimeter of the coastline and the surface area of the object. For example, if the lake is less than half a kilometer in size, then the water protection zone is located at 50 m. Such regulations apply to artificial and natural water resources. For the seashore, the distance for development is significantly higher and is set at 500 m.

If the river has a short length, less than 10 km, then the water protection zone coincides with the shore. An exception is made for activities carried out directly near the source of a stream or small river. You will have to retreat 50 m from the shore, otherwise the ban on construction near a water body will be violated.

Other restrictions on use in economic activities and living near the water protection zone the following applies:

inadmissibility of using wastewater for land reclamation and other agricultural needs. Since the land plot is located in close proximity to the reservoir, after watering and irrigation, wastewater enters the reservoir;
the formation of animal burials, cemeteries or storage of industrial waste, especially of increased toxicity, is unacceptable in the zone;
Plowing of plots is not permitted. The coastline should not be exposed to heavy equipment, the formation of earthen debris and other actions leading to soil erosion;
it is forbidden to graze livestock or set up summer paddocks in the protection zone;
the movement of all types of transport, the formation of spontaneous or planned parking is prohibited.

Despite all existing restrictions, construction in compliance with established rules is permitted by law. This will require the issuance of additional permits and the inclusion in the design documentation of equipment and devices to protect the nearby water body.

VK RF Article 65. Water protection zones and coastal protective strips

1. Water protection zones are territories that are adjacent to the coastline (borders of a water body) of seas, rivers, streams, canals, lakes, reservoirs and in which a special regime for economic and other activities is established in order to prevent pollution, clogging, siltation of these water bodies and depletion of their waters, as well as preserving the habitat of aquatic biological resources and other objects of flora and fauna.

2. Coastal protective strips are established within the boundaries of water protection zones, in the territories of which additional restrictions on economic and other activities are introduced.

3. Outside the territories of cities and other populated areas, the width of the water protection zone of rivers, streams, canals, lakes, reservoirs and the width of their coastal protective strip are established from the location of the corresponding coastline (border of the water body), and the width of the water protection zone of the seas and the width of their coastal protective strip stripes - from the line of maximum tide. In the presence of centralized storm drainage systems and embankments, the boundaries of the coastal protective strips of these water bodies coincide with the parapets of the embankments; the width of the water protection zone in such territories is established from the embankment parapet.

(see text in the previous edition)

4. The width of the water protection zone of rivers or streams is established from their source for rivers or streams with a length of:

1) up to ten kilometers - in the amount of fifty meters;

2) from ten to fifty kilometers - in the amount of one hundred meters;

3) from fifty kilometers or more - in the amount of two hundred meters.

5. For a river or stream less than ten kilometers long from source to mouth, the water protection zone coincides with the coastal protective strip. The radius of the water protection zone for the sources of a river or stream is set at fifty meters.

6. The width of the water protection zone of a lake, reservoir, with the exception of a lake located inside a swamp, or a lake, reservoir with a water area of less than 0.5 square kilometers, is set at fifty meters. The width of the water protection zone of a reservoir located on a watercourse is set equal to the width of the water protection zone of this watercourse.

(see text in the previous edition)

7. The boundaries of the water protection zone of Lake Baikal are established in accordance with the Federal Law of May 1, 1999 N 94-FZ “On the Protection of Lake Baikal”.

(see text in the previous edition)

8. The width of the sea water protection zone is five hundred meters.

9. Water protection zones of main or inter-farm canals coincide in width with the allotment strips of such canals.

10. Water protection zones for rivers and their parts placed in closed collectors are not established.

11. The width of the coastal protective strip is set depending on the slope of the shore of the water body and is thirty meters for a reverse or zero slope, forty meters for a slope of up to three degrees and fifty meters for a slope of three degrees or more.

12. For flowing and drainage lakes and corresponding watercourses located within the boundaries of swamps, the width of the coastal protective strip is set at fifty meters.

13. The width of the coastal protective strip of a river, lake, or reservoir that is of particularly valuable fishery importance (spawning, feeding, wintering areas for fish and other aquatic biological resources) is set at two hundred meters, regardless of the slope of the adjacent lands.

(see text in the previous edition)

14. In the territories of populated areas, in the presence of centralized storm drainage systems and embankments, the boundaries of coastal protective strips coincide with the parapets of the embankments. The width of the water protection zone in such areas is established from the embankment parapet. In the absence of an embankment, the width of the water protection zone or coastal protective strip is measured from the location of the coastline (the boundary of the water body).

(see text in the previous edition)

15. Within the boundaries of water protection zones it is prohibited:

1) use of wastewater to regulate soil fertility;

(see text in the previous edition)

2) placement of cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, production and consumption waste disposal sites, chemical, explosive, toxic, poisonous and poisonous substances, radioactive waste disposal sites;

(see text in the previous edition)

3) implementation of aviation measures to combat pests;

(see text in the previous edition)

4) movement and parking of vehicles (except for special vehicles), with the exception of their movement on roads and parking on roads and in specially equipped places with hard surfaces;

5) placement of gas stations, warehouses of fuel and lubricants (except for cases where gas stations, warehouses of fuel and lubricants are located in the territories of ports, shipbuilding and ship repair organizations, infrastructure of inland waterways, subject to compliance with the requirements of legislation in the field of environmental protection and of this Code), service stations used for technical inspection and repair of vehicles, washing vehicles;

6) placement of specialized storage facilities for pesticides and agrochemicals, use of pesticides and agrochemicals;

7) discharge of wastewater, including drainage water;

8) exploration and production of common mineral resources (except for cases where exploration and production of common mineral resources is carried out by subsoil users engaged in exploration and production of other types of mineral resources, within the boundaries of mining allotments allocated to them in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation on subsoil resources and (or ) geological allotments on the basis of an approved technical design in accordance with Article 19.1 of the Law of the Russian Federation of February 21, 1992 N 2395-1 “On Subsoil”).

16. Within the boundaries of water protection zones, design, construction, reconstruction, commissioning, operation of economic and other facilities are allowed, provided that such facilities are equipped with structures that ensure the protection of water bodies from pollution, clogging, siltation and water depletion in accordance with water legislation and legislation in field of environmental protection. The choice of the type of structure that ensures the protection of a water body from pollution, clogging, siltation and water depletion is carried out taking into account the need to comply with the standards for permissible discharges of pollutants, other substances and microorganisms established in accordance with environmental legislation. For the purposes of this article, structures that ensure the protection of water bodies from pollution, clogging, siltation and water depletion are understood as:

1) centralized drainage (sewage) systems, centralized storm drainage systems;

Everyone knows that man and his economic activities negatively affect the natural environment. And the load on it increases from year to year. This fully applies to water resources. And although 1/3 of the earth's surface is occupied by water, it is impossible to avoid its pollution. Our country is no exception, and close attention is paid to the protection of water resources. But it is not yet possible to solve this problem fully.

Coastal areas subject to protection

A water protection zone is a zone that includes the area around any water bodies. Special conditions are created here for within its boundaries there is a protective coastal strip with a more strict protection regime, with additional restrictions on environmental management.

The purpose of such measures is to prevent pollution and clogging of water resources. In addition, the lake may silt up and the river may become shallow. The aquatic environment is a habitat for many living organisms, including rare and endangered ones listed in the Red Book. Therefore, security measures are necessary.

The water protection zone and the coastal protective strip are located between the coastline, which is the boundary of the water body. It is calculated as follows:

for the sea - according to the water level, and if it changes, then according to the low tide level,
for a pond or reservoir - according to the retaining water level,
for streams - according to the water level during the period when they are not covered with ice,
for swamps - from their beginning along the border of peat deposits.

The special regime at the border of water protection zones is regulated by Art. 65 of the Water Code of the Russian Federation.

Design

The basis for the design are regulatory documents that are approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and are consistent with those authorities that are responsible for

Customers for the design are territorial authorities from the Ministry of Water Resources of the Russian Federation. And in the case of reservoirs given for individual use - water users. They must maintain the territory of the coastal protective strip in proper condition. As a rule, tree and shrub vegetation should grow at the border.

Projects undergo verification and environmental assessment, and are approved by the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Special signs indicate where the border of the coastal protective strip ends. Before the project comes into force, its dimensions and the dimensions of water protection zones are plotted on the plan diagram for the development of settlements, land use plans, and cartographic materials. The established borders and regime in these territories must be brought to the attention of the population.

Dimensions of the protective coastal strip

The width of the protective coastal strip depends on the steepness of the slope of the river or lake basin and is:

30 m for zero slope,
40 m for slope up to 3 degrees,
50 m for a slope of 3 degrees or more.

For swamps and flowing lakes, the border is 50 m. For lakes and reservoirs where valuable fish species are found, it will be within a radius of 200 m from the coastline. In the territory of a settlement where there are storm sewer drains, its boundaries run along the parapet of the embankment. If there is none, then the border will pass along the coastline.

Prohibition on certain types of work

Since the zone of the coastal protective strip has a stricter protection regime, the list of works that should not be carried out here is quite large:

The use of manure waste to fertilize the land.
Disposal of agricultural and household waste, cemeteries, cattle burial grounds.
Use for discharging contaminated water and garbage.
Washing and repairing cars and other mechanisms, as well as their movement in this area.
Use for transport placement.
Construction and repair of buildings and structures without approval from authorities.
Grazing and summer housing of livestock.
Construction of garden and summer cottage plots, installation of tent camps.

As an exception, water protection and coastal protective strips are used to accommodate fishing and hunting farms, water supply facilities, hydraulic engineering facilities, etc. In this case, a water use license is issued, which stipulates the requirements for compliance with the rules of the water protection regime. Those persons who carry out illegal actions in these territories are responsible for their actions within the framework of the law.

Construction in a water protection zone

The protective coastal strip is not a place for development, but for the water protection zone there are exceptions to the rules. Real estate objects are still “growing” along the banks, and in geometric progression. But how do developers comply with legal requirements? And the law says that “the placement and construction of residential buildings or summer cottages with a water protection area width of less than 100 m and a slope steepness of more than 3 degrees is strictly prohibited.”

It is clear that the developer must first consult the territorial department of the Water Management Department about the possibility of construction and the boundaries of the placement of the protective coastal strip. A response from this department is necessary to obtain a construction permit.

How to avoid sewage pollution?

If the building has already been erected and is not equipped with special filtration systems, then the use of receivers made of waterproof materials is permitted. They do not allow environmental pollution.

Facilities that support the protection of clean water sources are:

Sewerage and centralized stormwater drainage channels.
Structures into which contaminated water is discharged (to specially equipped ones. This can be rain and melt water.
Local (local) treatment facilities built in accordance with the standards of the Water Code.

Places for collecting consumer and industrial waste, systems for discharging wastewater into receivers are made of special durable materials. If residential buildings or any other buildings are not provided with these structures, the protective coastal strip will suffer. In this case, fines will be imposed on the enterprise.

Penalties for violation of the water protection regime

Fines for improper use of protected areas:

for citizens - from 3 to 4.5 thousand rubles;
for officials - from 8 to 12 thousand rubles;
for organizations - from 200 to 400 thousand rubles.

If violations are found in the private housing development sector, then the fine is issued to the citizen, and his costs will be small. If a violation is detected, it must be eliminated within the allotted time frame. If this does not happen, then the building is demolished, including forcibly.

For violations in the protective zone where drinking sources are located, the fine will be different:

citizens will contribute 3-5 thousand rubles;
officials - 10-15 thousand rubles;
enterprises and organizations - 300-500 thousand rubles.

Scale of the problem

The coastal protective strip of a water body must be operated within the framework of the law.

After all, one polluted lake or reservoir can become a serious problem for an area or region, since everything in nature is interconnected. The larger the body of water, the more complex its ecosystem. If the natural balance is disturbed, it can no longer be restored. The extinction of living organisms will begin, and it will be too late to change or do anything. Serious disturbances to the environment of water bodies can be avoided with a competent approach, compliance with the law, and careful attention to the natural environment.

And if we talk about the scale of the problem, then this is not a question of all humanity, but a reasonable attitude towards the nature of each individual person. If a person treats with understanding the riches that planet Earth has given him, then future generations will be able to see clean, transparent rivers. Scoop up water with your palm and... try to quench your thirst with water that is impossible to drink.

In the last decade, many private properties have been built on the banks of our water bodies in the cities and villages of the country. But at the same time, legal norms were not observed at all; by and large, no one was interested in them. But construction in such places is illegal. Moreover, coastal areas of water bodies have a special status. It’s not for nothing that these territories are protected by law; there’s probably something important and special about them... Let’s talk about this in more detail.

What is a water protection zone

First, you should understand a little terminology. A water protection zone, from a legislative point of view, is land adjacent to bodies of water: rivers, lakes, seas, streams, canals, and reservoirs.

In these areas, a special regime of activity has been established to prevent clogging, pollution, spoilage and depletion of water resources, as well as to preserve the usual habitat of flora and fauna, and biological resources. Special protective strips are installed on the territory of water protection zones.

Changes in legislation

In 2007, the new Water Code of Russia came into force. In it, in comparison with the previous document, the regime of the water protection zone was radically changed (from a legal point of view). More precisely, the size of coastal territories was greatly reduced. To understand what we are talking about, let's give an example. Until 2007, the smallest width of water protection zones for rivers (the length of the river is important) ranged from fifty to five hundred meters, for reservoirs and lakes - three hundred, five hundred meters (depending on the area of the reservoir). In addition, the size of these territories was clearly determined by such parameters as the type of land adjacent to the water body.

The determination of the exact dimensions of water protection zones and coastal protective strips was carried out by the executive authorities of the Russian Federation. In certain cases they set the size of the territory from two to three thousand meters. What do we have today?

Water protection zones of water bodies: modern realities

Now the width of coastal areas is established by law itself (Water Code of the Russian Federation, Art. 65). Water protection zones and coastal protective strips for rivers longer than fifty kilometers are limited to an area of no more than two hundred meters. And executive authorities currently do not have the right to set their own standards. We clearly see that the water protection zone of the river, even the largest one, is no more than two hundred meters. And this is several times less than previous standards. This concerns rivers. What about other water areas? Here the situation is even sadder.

Water protection zones of water bodies, such as lakes and reservoirs, have decreased in size tenfold. Just think about the numbers! Ten times! For reservoirs with an area of more than half a kilometer, the width of the zone is now fifty meters. But initially there were five hundred. If the water area is less than 0.5 km, then the New Code does not establish a water protection zone at all. This, apparently, should be understood as the fact that it simply does not exist? The logic in this situation is not at all clear. They are large in size, but any body of water has its own ecosystem, which should not be invaded, otherwise it threatens to disrupt all biological processes. So is it really possible to leave even a small lake unprotected? The only exceptions were those water bodies that are important in fisheries. We see that the water protection zone has not undergone the best changes.

Serious prohibitions in the old version of the Land Code

Previously, the law determined a special regime in the water protection zone. It was an integral part of a single mechanism for a set of measures to improve the hydrobiological, sanitary, hydrochemical, and ecological state of lakes, rivers, reservoirs and seas, as well as the improvement of surrounding areas. This specialized regime consisted of prohibiting almost any activity in water protection zones.

In such places it was not allowed to set up summer cottages and vegetable gardens, arrange parking for vehicles, or fertilize the soil. And most importantly, construction in the water protection zone was prohibited without approval from the competent authorities. Reconstruction of buildings, communications, mining, land work, and arrangement of dacha cooperatives were also prohibited.

What was previously prohibited is now allowed

The new code contains only four prohibitions out of ten that previously existed:

Fertilizing the soil with wastewater is not permitted.
Such a territory cannot become a site for livestock burial grounds, cemeteries, or the burial of toxic, chemical and radioactive substances.
Aeronautical pest control measures are not permitted.
The coastal strip of the water protection zone is not a place for traffic, parking or parking of cars and other equipment. The only exceptions may be specialized areas with hard surfaces.

Protective belts are currently protected by law only from plowing of land, from the development of pastures for livestock and camps.

In other words, legislators gave the go-ahead to place dacha cooperatives, car washes, repairs, refueling cars in the coastal strip, provide areas for construction, etc. In essence, construction is allowed in the water protection zone and on the coastline. Moreover, the obligation to coordinate all types of activities with competent structures (such as Rosvodoresurs) is even excluded from the law. But the most incomprehensible thing is that since 2007 it has been allowed to privatize land in such places. That is, any environmental protection zone can become the property of private individuals. And then they can do whatever they want with it. Although earlier in Art. 28 Federal Law there was a direct ban on the privatization of these lands.

Results of changes to the Water Code

We see that the new legislation is much less demanding for the protection of coastal areas and water resources. Initially, concepts such as a water protection zone, its dimensions and the dimensions of protective strips were defined by the laws of the USSR. They were based on geographical, hydrological, and soil nuances. Possible near-term changes in the coast were also taken into account. The goal was to preserve water resources from pollution and possible depletion, and to preserve the ecological balance of coastal zones, since they are habitats for animals. The river's water protection zone was established once, and the rules were in effect for several decades. They did not change until January 2007.

There were no prerequisites for simplifying the regime of water protection zones. Environmentalists note that the only goal pursued by legislators when introducing such fundamental changes was simply to provide an opportunity to legitimize the spontaneous mass development of the coastal area, which has been growing over the past ten years. However, everything that was illegally built during the period of the old law cannot be legalized since 2007. This is possible only in relation to those structures that have arisen since the entry into force of the new norms. Everything that was previously, naturally, falls under earlier regulations and documents. This means it cannot be legitimized. This is how a conflict arose.

What can liberal policies lead to?

The establishment of such a soft regime for reservoirs and their coastal zones, and permission to build structures in these places will have a detrimental effect on the condition of nearby territories. The water protection zone of the reservoir is designed to protect the facility from pollution and negative changes. After all, this can lead to disruption of a very fragile ecological balance.

Which, in turn, will affect the lives of all organisms and animals living in this area. A beautiful lake in the forest can turn into an overgrown swamp, a fast river into a dirty creek. You never know how many such examples can be given. Remember how many dacha plots were given away, how people with good intentions tried to improve the land... Only bad luck: the construction of thousands of dachas on the shore of a huge lake led to the fact that it turned into an eerie, smelly resemblance to a reservoir in which it is no longer possible to swim. And the forest in the area has thinned out considerably due to the participation of people. And these are not the saddest examples.

Scale of the problem

The water protection zone of a lake, river or other body of water must be under the close supervision of the law. Otherwise, the problem of one polluted lake or storage facility may develop into a global problem for the entire region.

The larger the body of water, the more complex its ecosystem is. Unfortunately, the disturbed natural balance cannot be restored. Living organisms, fish, plants and animals will die. And it will be impossible to change anything. It's probably worth thinking about this.

Instead of an afterword

In our article, we examined the current problem of water protection facilities and the importance of complying with their regime, and also discussed the latest changes to the Water Code. I would like to believe that easing the rules regarding the protection of water bodies and adjacent areas will not lead to catastrophic consequences, and people will treat the environment wisely and with care. After all, a lot depends on you and me.