Hydro power in Val di Mello is suspended (2007)

Val di Mello now natural reserve (2009)

Map with explanation of the plans in Val di Mello.

Update summer 2009: In January 2009 the region Lombardia (the council of this 'super province') has asigned the Mello Valley as a natural reserve. Amongst others no buildings may be erected, or existing buildings be enlarged, within the asigned area. The building of hydro power installations becomes very unlikely. An environmental study of the Province of Sondrio of 2009 VAS Aggiornamento 2009 recognizes the vulnerability of mountain rivers, warns for the exploitation by mains of hydro power and states that the criteria to evaluate the impact on the environemt used until now are inadequate. Valmasino or Val di Mello are not metioned in this study, but is seems clear that the situation discribed below gave reason to tread the subject - in general - in this study.
Update june 2nd 2007: It seems all parties responsible have agreed on a text for a protocol how to proceed with an environmental study for the province of Sondrio. The study must result in desicions about were to build new hydropower plants and were to protect nature. The study will take one year, the protocol is not signed yet. Source: www.vaol.it Update december 20th 2006: An environmental commision of the Italian parliament has adopted a motion which aims at a two year moratorium on all further developement regarding hydropower in the province of Sondrio. The government is now obliged to undertake all necessary action to block new concessions and new undertakings in the field of hydropower. In this two year period a vast investigation has to be made regarding all aspects of future developments regarding hydropower in the province of Sondrio, paying attention to the water resources in general and possible consequences for environment and landscape of new hydro plants. This moratorium could lead to just postponing the concessions already given, if there were not a second development: it seems some competences regarding water management will have to be moved form the Region of Lombardia to the Provinces. The Region of Lomabardia (a kind of super-province) is the body which has given the disputed concession. This can increase the influence of local opinion and politics, and as a consequence, the chance that the hydro power plans for Val di Mello will really be cancelled! Source: www.vaol.it
Val di Mello text: September 2006 is one of the last unspoiled valleys in the Alps. Its extraordinary scenic and natural beauty is recognised by several legal acts, even at national level. It makes part of the, still to be established, Regional Natural Parc Bernina, Disgrazia, Valmasina and Codera. This enchanted place is now seriously threatened by advanced plans for exploitation of hydro power. The initial plans date from 1995, and execution comes closer rapidly.
Val di Mello, view to the West	part of the Ferro valley which will dramatically alter
Vast installation, moderate power production The plans foresee in five points of water extraction from the torrents Ferro, Zocca, Qualido, Torrone and Mello all at a height of approximately 1520 m. These extraction points will feed a set of underground generators with a total power of 4 Mega Watt, located near the existing large tube crossing the Mello river at 1002 m height near a parking place. Only 10 % of the original flow rate has to remain intact (below the intakes) with a minimum of 50 litres/second for each torrent. The maximum amount of water extracted will be 1800 litres/second in total. Major dehydration In practice this means that a major part of all the water flowing between 1500 and 1000 meter in the main valley of Mello and the Ferro, Qualido, Zocca and Torrone valleys will be used for hydro power. For example, from the yearly flow through the Mello river (at the height of the intake point) of 460 litres/second, only 50 litres/second has to be preserved (minor feed of the Mello river from Remoluzza, Mezzola etc. and will remain). Effectively a vast area of the valley will get dehydrated, a clear danger for the eco system. Irriversible damage of the landscape Major structures in concrete will be erected in the Zocca and Torrone valley in order to collect and buffer the water. A surface level tube is planned from Casera Pioda to the Torrone intake. From there a tunnel, initially 4 square meters in cross section, will be drilled to the Zocca intake, the Qualido intake en finally to the Ferro intake were its cross section then will be 9 square meters. From there it falls down in large tunnel / buffer to the generators. A road to the Ferro intake has to be constructed to reach the construction site. The effects on the environment will only be investigated in a very superficial manner, though the dehydration will severly affect vegetation, with all subsequent consequences. This last stage of decision is now in progress. This environmental research, which only seems a formality, will close within three month. Then the excavators can start digging and there is no return. source: Regione Lombardia, Direzione Centrale Programmazione Integrata, Sondrio Original document: Decreto 6114 from 31/05/2006 interpretation and summary: Michiel van Eeden, corrected by Massino Sala of valdimello.it

The petition to stop the hydro power plans in Val di mello has gathered over 8.000 signatures on line and 2.000 on paper and is now CLOSED.

Val di Mello site - Home
Map with explanation
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Red line: surface level tube form Pioda to Torrone, purple line: tunnel through the mountains from Torrone to Ferro.
Green: captation reservoirs. Picture taken from quota 1360, lower Mezzola valley.