Canton Of Valais Research Articles

Paul Dirac and the Town of Saint-Maurice in Switzerland

directions so that others may follow in your tracks. T he following story is about the ignorance of one’s neighborhood’s past. It started in the 1960s, when I attended high school at the College of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. Among my schoolmates were some by the name of Dirac, for example, Christian and Georges-Albert. Saint-Maurice (Figure 1) is a small town located east of Lac Leman (Geneva, which gives the lake its English name, is located on the lake’s western tip) 30 km southeast of Montreux, on the way from Paris to Rome crossing the Great Saint Bernard or the Simplon Pass. The ‘‘via Francigena,’’ the pilgrim path of Archbishop Sigeric leading from Canterbury in England to Rome, runs through the narrow canyon of the Rhone at that location. Several Diracs are still living in the town (Figure 2). We students did not know much about the Abbey. It had been founded in 515 to commemorate the third-century massacre of a legion which, according to some accounts, had come from Thebes (today’s Luxor) in Egypt to fight alongside the Romans. At that time the latter worshipped their own gods; they killed their Theban allies in SaintMaurice as these refused to obey Emperor Maximian’s order to persecute Christians. Although we knew that the Abbey had been called ‘‘Royal,’’ had its own Bishop, and that one of its chapels hosted an important treasure (Figure 3), my recollection is that most of us did not view the town as such an exceptional place. Paul Dirac surely was mentioned during my mathematics studies, but I perceived that just as a coincidence. When later encountering Dirac’s delta in the United States, I should have been puzzled by the fact that it was pronounced the French way, but I was not. Only much later, when back in Switzerland, did I come across an article [1] in the College’s journal, in which my physics teacher explained that, in fact, the famous scientist was directly related to my Dirac schoolmates! Indeed, although Paul never lived in Switzerland, he was a Swiss citizen until the age of 17. In 1919 his father revoked the family’s burghership of Saint-Maurice in favor of the English nationality to avoid paying the high fees of English universities for the education of his children. (In Switzerland, the place of birth is irrelevant for the citizenship: one is first a ‘‘burgher’’ of the town of one’s father or mother; this automatically implies the nationality.) You might know Paul Dirac’s third name, ‘‘Maurice’’: it is a hint at the town of origin of his forefathers. Some Dirac family members from Saint-Maurice were invited to London in 1995, when a memorial plaque in honor of Paul was unveiled near Newton’s monument in Westminster Abbey. On August 1, 1991, a garden was dedicated to Paul in Saint-Maurice, a few yards from the train station (Figure 4). It contains a monument carrying the

Les parlers francoprovençaux de la Suisse romande : processus de patrimonialisation

In a part of French-speaking Switzerland, the Valais canton, the break in the transmission of so-called “traditional” languages (the Francoprovençal dialects), has launched a process to save them. The sense of loss has transformed a previously looked down upon linguistic and cultural reality into a value. Thus several forms of heritage enhancement, from the “top” and from the “bottom”, are surfacing. Though this is slowly changing people’s attitudes towards the patois, the challenge will be to see how the identity and emotional niche which they presently occupy will be modified in today’s bi-plurilingual community.

Runoff Impact on Active Geomorphosites in Unconsolidated Substrate. A Comparison Between Landforms in Glacial and Marine Clay Sediments: Two Case Studies from the Swiss Alps and the Italian Apennines

The cultural value of geomorphological heritage (i.e., geomorphosites) is universally recognised and at the same time the interest on its mutability, as a consequence of both natural-climate and human pressure, is growing. In some cases a sudden increase in the velocity of processes can cause irreversible modifications threatening the survival of sites as well as their scientific value in terms of integrity. The focus of this paper is put on two types of geomorphosites (active geomorphosites and evolving passive geomorphosites), in which it is possible to observe and quantify the geomorphological processes varying mainly as a response to climate change. The study cases are runoff-derived landforms on unconsolidated deposits in two morphoclimatic contexts: ‘calanchi’ on marine originated clays in the Italian Apennines in Mediterranean climatic context (Crete d’Arbia and Radicofani, Tuscany) and earth pyramids formed in glacial deposits in continental Alpine environment (Pyramides d’Euseigne, Canton Valais, Switzerland). In both sites, human activities have strongly contributed to landscape evolution. To investigate erosion rates, dendrogeomorphological analysis (i.e. stress indicators and root exposure analysis) were combined with traditional quantitative geomorphological techniques. Analysis of the roots exposure, well correlated with the climatic data (denudation rates are higher during wet period), show that denudation rates are lower at Pyramides d’Euseigne due to the different texture of the deposits. Unfortunately, at the moment, a comparison between the two sites based on geomorphological monitoring data is not possible due to the different time interval of analysis, and only conclusions on denudation rates coming from roots exposure are allowed. Both geomorphosites have a high scientific value (representativeness and educational exemplarity) and are characterised by dynamicity. Providing data for modelling the sites evolution and possible decrease of their scientific value, caused by proceeding of the process itself, may be particularly significant.

Tectonics of the Monte Rosa and surrounding nappes (Switzerland and Italy): Tertiary phases of subduction, thrusting and folding in the Pennine Alps

The Monte Rosa basement fold nappe, surrounded by other continental units of the Brianconnais s.l. domain and ophiolites of the Piemont Ocean, represents a major structure of the Pennine Alps situated at the border of the Canton Valais (Switzerland) and Italy. The Central Alps were formed during the collision and SE-directed underthrusting of the European below the Adriatic plate by successive underthrusting, detachment and accretion of the Austroalpine Sesia continental crust, the Piemont oceanic crust and the continental Brianconnais–Europe plate border. The 90–60 Ma Sesia high-pressure metamorphism, followed by the 50–38 Ma Zermatt-Saas Fee and Monte Rosa high-pressure metamorphism, and since 40 Ma by the Barrovian regional metamorphism, reveal a long-lasting Alpine evolution during convergence of both plates. The superposition of the ultra-high pressure Zermatt-Saas Fee ophiolites by the continental Cimes Blanche unit of the Brianconnais domain and the medium pressure ophiolitic Tsate nappe is explained by delamination and tectonic flake detachment of the Cimes Blanches from the Brianconnais crust and its south directed thrust over the Zermatt-Saas Fee and Tsate ophiolites. The main ductile deformational structures, related to the NW-directed nappe emplacement, were generated after 40 Ma under greenschist to amphibolite facies Barrovian orogenic metamorphism. Early extrusional structures have been transposed by the younger thrust structures. The NW-directed thrust of the Alps was accompanied since about 35 Ma by ductile dextral shear and backfolding in the zone of dextral transpression between the converging European and Adriatic plates.

Inkjet Printing Meets Electrochemical Energy Conversion.

Inkjet printing is a very powerful digital and mask-less microfabrication technique that has attracted the attention of several research groups working on electrochemical energy conversion concepts. In this short review, an overview is given about recent efforts to employ inkjet printing for the search of new electrocatalyst materials and for the preparation of catalyst layers for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. Recent approaches of the Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry (LEPA) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne for the inkjet printing of catalyst layers and membrane electrode assemblies are presented and future energy research directions of LEPA based on inkjet printing in the new Energypolis campus in the Canton of Valais are summarized.

Evolution de la gestion des chablis ces 50 dernières années dans la région du Bas-Valais (essai)

Trends in windthrow management during the last 50 years in Lower Valais (essay) A review on the measures taken in forests hit by storms during the last 50 years reveals the mind-set behind the evolution of management operations. In the 1960s, to remove all dead wood in a stand was perfectly normal due to timber prices. Between 1984 and 1990, vast sums of money were pumped into the improvement of forest structures facing the threat of a general forest dieback. As a consequence, only few of the windthrow areas caused by storm Vivian remained with no intervention. Vivian also marked the beginning of manifold research activities and practical terrain examination in windthrow gaps. Conclusions of this first research phase resulted in a critical assessment of the windthrow areas caused by Lothar in 1999, considering different goals than systematic removal of damage wood and the prevention of bark beetle outbreaks. Since the 1990s, retaining timber after windthrow has been lively discussed, as well as the maintenance of the protection function against natural hazards and opportunities for biodiversity. Several handbooks were developed and successfully used for the planning and defining of top priority measures in damaged forests that resulted from disturbances in 2011 and 2012 in Lower Valais. These recent disturbances together with the certainty that storms will recur led to the formation of a task force in the canton Valais, aiming to organize both logistics and funds, as well as to define management priorities regarding a next hazard.

And the farmer became a gardener. Methodological challenges of anthropological research in the Swiss Alps

This paper will discuss the rural and touristic context in which current changes and tensions pose methodological challenges to anthropological research. The canton of Valais, in Switzerland, is a rural mountain region that has undergone deep transformations, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. The Alpine valleys have seen intense construction activity: traditional farming systems have decreased drastically whereas tourist facilities have significantly increased in number. The recent changes in agricultural policies have amplified farmers’ discontent and a new law on construction restrictions in mountain settings has brought to light a marked cleavage between the inhabitants of the Swiss Plateau and mountain dwellers. Economic and environmental interests create substantial tensions. Given these tensions, carrying out research in this setting became quite sensitive and politicised. I will present some results of exploratory research conducted in Valais in September 2012, as well as the challenges that have to be taken into account when organising long-term ethnographic research. It is proposed that one way to overcome personal and discipline-related obstacles is to carry out multidisciplinary research with social geographers, specialists of environmental sciences, agronomists and experts in regional planning and land use. Accordingly, interdisciplinarity and the comparison of various rural contexts are crucial in order to achieve relevant results.

The Landscapes of Hydroelectricity, Tourism and Nature Conservation in a High Mountain Area: The Canton of Valais in Switzerland

À l’orée de la transition énergétique qui s’impose aujourd’hui en Europe et dans le monde, la Suisse fait le choix d’une stratégie de développement de l’énergie renouvelable en améliorant et en augmentant sa force hydraulique dans la perspective 2050. Cela se traduit par la rehausse de barrages et la construction de nouvelles centrales hydroélectriques utilisant une nouvelle technologie de pompage-turbinage, plus performante en matière de production d’hydroélectricité. Dans ce contexte, les entreprises qui exploitent la ressource hydroénergétique prennent aussi des mesures compensatoires d’ordre écologique, parfois en association avec des organismes de protection de la nature, et induisent de nouveaux regards sur le paysage et de nouvelles pratiques touristiques. Ce processus de développement industriel en haute montagne s’inscrit dans la continuité historique des interrelations étroites qui existent depuis le début de l’hydroélectricité entre l’exploitation de la ressource, la mise en tourisme de la haute montagne et la protection de la nature. Il associe la construction de nouvelles valeurs patrimoniales à la fabrication d’un autre référentiel de représentation des paysages de l’hydroélectricité auquel prennent part les entreprises qui exploitent la ressource hydroénergétique en concertation avec les organismes de protection de la nature. Le Valais suisse, qui possède quelques-uns des barrages les plus importants des montagnes du sud européen, témoigne avec acuité de l’enchevêtrement et de l’évolution de ces interrelations depuis le début du xxe siècle à nos jours.

Construction of a place brand

The approach adopted by the Swiss canton of Valais to develop a place brand – the attribution of an overall quality relating to the characteristics, excellence and originality of a place and to a group of products and services – appears exemplary in that it has been instrumental in developing tourism and agricultural production, and promoting industry. The canton, which enjoys a reputation as a tourist destination (several renowned resorts) and is part of a well-known and distinctive river basin (the upper Rhone), comprises, however, a variety of motivations and interest groups at smaller scales relating to the different mountain massifs and valleys. In such a context, it is both the image and reputation of the canton as a whole that constitute the main resource, a situation that is, however, not without risk when the canton finds itself in a awkward position in relation to the new metropolitan values (in the Swiss context) of political ecology on the question of landscape and second homes.

Hydropower license renewal and environmental protection policies: a comparison between Switzerland and the USA

Traditional hydropower creates a number of adverse environmental effects, nowadays largely recognized but still in conflict with rights granted in previous era of development. The Upper Rhone River basin is heavily developed for hydropower generation. As this region undergoes a period of new concession grants, environmental legislation should eventually be implemented to its full extent. This turning point also allows changes in dams’ ownership and institutional setting, and these aspects attract much of the political attention. The article compares the US hydropower regulatory framework and the country’s experience in dam relicensing to highlight shortcomings in the Swiss regulatory framework and possible outcomes of the concession reversion process in Canton Valais.

Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in field-collected ticks (Ixodes ricinus) in southern Switzerland.

BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Europe with 3,000 human cases reported each year. In Western Europe, the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, is the principal vector of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). TBEV appears to be spreading geographically and was recently detected for the first time in Canton Valais in the southern part of Switzerland. The purpose of the present study was to survey the I. ricinus tick populations of Canton Valais for TBEV.MethodsWe collected a total of 19,331 I. ricinus ticks at 45 different sites in Canton Valais between 2010 and 2013. Ticks were processed in pools and tested for TBEV using reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The NS5 gene and the envelope gene of the TBEV isolates were partially sequenced for phylogenetic analysis.ResultsTBEV was detected in tick populations at six of the 45 sites. These six sites were all located in a 33 km transect along the Rhône River. TBEV was detected in two sites for three of the four years of the study showing the temporal persistence of the pathogen. Prevalence of TBEV in the six positive sites ranged from 0.16% to 11.11%. Phylogenetic analysis found that all TBEV isolates from Canton Valais belonged to the European subtype. Genetic analysis found two distinct lineages of TBEV suggesting that Canton Valais experienced two independent colonization events.ConclusionsTBEV appears to be well established at certain locations in Canton Valais.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-443) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Freshwater biodiversity under warming pressure in the Alps: a methodological framework for prioritization of restoration areas for small waterbodies

Freshwater biodiversity has shown to be highly vulnerable to climate warming. Boreo-alpine species are especially at risk in the Alps because they have to migrate to higher elevations to avoid local extinction. Effects of climate warming could be partly counteracted by creating new freshwater habitats: this would boost the population sizes of the endangered species and would increase the connectivity between Alpine waterbodies to facilitate the species’ upward dispersal and colonization of new habitats. Nevertheless, the localization of new habitats has to be carefully chosen, as successful restoration (or habitat creation) depends on many abiotic and ecological variables (e. g. habitats density and quality, connection between bodies of water, presence of targeted species, resistance of landscape to species movements). Furthermore, various socioeconomic drivers and actors determine the land and water uses in the Alps. Therefore we developed an innovative method for prioritization of areas for creation (or restoration) of small bodies of water, taking into account both ecological parameters (from species to landscape) and social ones. The method was developed in a test area (130 km 2 , in Canton Valais, Switzerland) representative of the Swiss Alpine landscapes and their associated socioeconomic activities. The proposed methodological framework consists of four steps which allow refining the geographical area to propose two or three small areas (some hectares) suitable for the creation of small water bodies. The first step investigates the regional scale, often several thousand km 2 , with a focus on environmental considerations: presence of historical or contemporary wetlands and waterbodies, presence of cold stenotherm species, and favourable landscape (in terms of land use) and socioeconomic context. The second step identifies areas of biological connectivity between source ponds and future host ponds for cold stenotherm species, taking into account the distance between source and host ponds and landscape resistance to the movements of pro pagules, finally highlighting the migration corridors. The third step checks the preselected areas with the aim of discarding catchments impaired by selective or diffuse pollutions. The fourth and final step is intended to enhance the probability of the project’s social acceptance: qualitative interviews and field observations are conducted on a local scale (often one km 2

Governing and managing water resources under changing hydro-climatic contexts: The case of the upper Rhone basin

Climate change represents a major increase in uncertainty that water managers and policy makers will need to integrate into water resources policy and management. A certain level of uncertainty has always existed in water resources planning, but the speed and intensity of changes in baseline conditions that climate change embodies might require a shift in perspective. This article draws on both the social and physical science results of the EU-FP7 ACQWA project to better understand the challenges and opportunities for adaptation to climate change impacts on the hydrology of the upper Rhone basin in the Canton Valais, Switzerland. It first presents the results of hydro-climatic change projections downscaled to more temporally and spatially-relevant frames of reference for decision makers. Then, it analyses the current policy and legislative framework within which these changes will take place, according to the policy coherence across different water-relevant frameworks as well as the integration and mainstreaming of climate change. It compares the current policy and legislative frameworks for different aspects of water resources management to the projected impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the upper Rhone basin, in order to examine the appropriateness of the current approach for responding to a changing climatic context. Significant uncertainties pose numerous challenges in the governance context. The study draws on adaptive governance principles, to propose policy actions across different scales of governance to better manage baseline variability as well as more ‘unpredictable’ uncertainty from climate change impacts.

Accessibility, equity and the sharing of water resources

While the supply of water to dry or arid mountain regions has long been a major challenge, the on-going processes of climatic and socio-economic change currently affecting the hydrosystems of the Alps raise the spectre of renewed pressure on water resources and possible local shortages. In such a context, questions relating to fair distribution of water are all the more sensitive given the tendency to neglect the social dimension of sustainability. The present paper makes both a conceptual and empirical contribution to this debate by analysing a system of distribution that has a long experience of water scarcity management: the community governance models traditionally linked to the irrigation channels, or bisses, typical of the Swiss Alpine canton of Valais. More specifically, we evaluate these models in terms of accessibility and equity, characteristics that we use to operationalize the notion of ‘fair distribution’. We examine these dimensions in three case studies with a view to highlighting the limitations of the aforementioned models. Indeed, despite their cooperative and endogenous nature, they tend to not only exclude certain members of the population, but also to reproduce rather than reduce social inequalities within the community. In general, these results challenge the rosy picture generally found in the literature relating to these community governance models.

SINNERITE, Cu6As4S9, FROM THE LENGENBACH QUARRY, BINN VALLEY, SWITZERLAND: DESCRIPTION AND RE-INVESTIGATION OF THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE

We have characterized the crystal structure of sinnerite, Cu 6 As 4 S 9 , a rare sulfosalt mineral from the ores of the Lengenbach quarry, Binn Valley, Canton Valais, Switzerland, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. We found sinnerite to be structurally identical to synthetic Cu 6 As 4 S 9 . It is triclinic, space group P 1, with cell parameters: a 9.103(2), b 9.860(3), c 9.111(2) A, α 90.27(2), β 109.53(2), γ 107.58(2)°, V 729.6(4) A 3 , and Z = 2. Semi-quantitative SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the Cu 6 As 4 S 9 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of an untwinned crystal has been refined to R 1 = 5.45%. It consists of a sphalerite substructure with 2/5 of the tetrahedra replaced by AsS 3 pyramids; four pyramids form As 4 S 12 clusters around the vacant anion positions of the sphalerite archetype. These pyramids are linked into twisted and branched chain-like structures with compositions As 3 S 7 and As 5 S 11 . The chains are linked by CuS 4 tetrahedra. Packing of these chains results in the OD (order-disorder) character of the sinnerite structure.

Adaptive capacity of water governance arrangements: a comparative study of barriers and opportunities in Swiss and US states

Climate variability and change are directly challenging the viability and sustainability of social–ecological systems. This is particularly true for water resources. Effective water governance is at the heart of alleviating water challenges and is thus considered crucial for building adaptive capacity to cope with future uncertainty and impacts from climate change. Despite advances in the conceptualisation of adaptive capacity, there are few empirical examples that look systematically across cases to identify how to implement measures and actions that build and mobilise adaptive capacity. This paper contributes to the understanding of adaptive capacity to climate stress by analysing the bridges and barriers to adaptation across water governance and management regimes in the case of the Canton Valais, Switzerland and the state of Georgia, USA. We find that while there is no single way to build and mobilise adaptive capacity across different scales of governance, the analysis points to a set of common bridges and barriers for building adaptive capacity to a variety of climatic events. Common bridges include trust and actor relationships, regional collaboration, leadership, and regulatory and legislative aspects. Common barriers include political, regulatory and legislative, and perception and cognitive aspects.

Fault zone signatures from ambient vibration measurements: a case study in the region of Visp (Valais, Switzerland)

Investigations of tectonic features, such as faults, are important challenges for geologists and engineers. Although direct investigational methods, such as boreholes and trenches, have the potential to provide accurate data, these direct methods are usually expensive and time consuming, and give only punctual insights into subsurface structures. Geophysical methods, for example electric surveys and ground penetrating radar, are less expensive and faster to implement. However, these geophysical methods may be difficult or sometimes even impossible to apply in regions with rough topography or regions which are highly urbanized. In this study, we propose an easy-to-use and affordable method to detect fault zones based on ambient vibration observations. We apply this method in the region between Visp and Unterstalden (canton Valais, Switzerland) on a small fault branch, which has no explicit surface expression, and which is linked to a major fault zone, the Simplon Fault Zone. The assumption is that the fault of interest is surrounded by damage zone consisting of fractured rock, and that this results in lateral changes of both seismic velocity and attenuation. The objective was, first, to identify such lateral changes in the observed seismic wave-field, and second, to map any anomalies and combine them with the available geological information. In this way, we were able to follow the fault trace even without a clear surface expression of the fault. Our observations showed the existence of a signature in the power spectra of the seismic noise that may correspond to a damage zone. Such signature is observed along the trace of the expected fault.

Attitudes towards morphine use among nurses and physicians working in French-speaking Switzerland

Attitudes towards morphine use among nurses and physicians working in French-speaking Switzerland Maria Ferreira,1 Henk Verloo,2 Margarida Maria S Vieira,3 Pedro Marques-Vidal4 1Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland; 2Haute École de Santé La Source, Lausanne, Switzerland; 3Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal; 4Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Abstract: There is little information regarding risk perceptions and attitudes towards morphine use in Switzerland. Thus, we aimed at assessing such attitudes in a sample of health professionals drawn from five nonuniversity hospitals in the French-speaking canton of Valais, Switzerland. The sample included 431 nurses and 40 physicians (age range: 20–63 years), and risk perceptions and attitudes towards morphine use were assessed using a validated questionnaire. More than half of the participants showed a negative attitude regarding most adverse events related to morphine. In bivariate analyses, participants working in geriatrics showed a more negative attitude towards use of morphine than did participants working in medicine and surgery. Compared with Swiss participants, non-Swiss participants also showed a more negative attitude regarding use of morphine. Conversely, no differences were found between the sexes, professions (nurses versus physicians), years of experience (≤14 years versus >14 years), or religions (Catholic versus other/no religion). These findings were further confirmed by multivariate adjustment. Our results indicate that attitudes regarding morphine use are mainly driven by its potential adverse effects and vary according to specialty and nationality. Educational measures directed at health professionals working in geriatrics or coming from abroad might reduce the high morphinophobia levels observed in these groups. Keywords: morphinophobia, cross-sectional study, nurses, physicians, Switzerland

Sediment Transport and Bedrock Erosion by Wet Snow Avalanches in the Guggigraben, Matter Valley, Switzerland

Wet snow avalanches breaking through to the base of the snowpack or overriding snowfree surfaces can entrain basal material and act as important agents of sediment transport in steep alpine catchments. Here we present results from 4 years of measurements at the Guggigraben catchment (Matter Valley, Canton Valais), quantifying the volume of sediment transported by avalanches each winter season. Sediment load was estimated by measuring the debris content within representative areas and then extrapolating the cumulative volume. Results reveal a total transported sediment volume of 70 m3 in 2009, 23 m3 in 2010, 15 m3 in 2011, and 35 m3 in 2012, which correspond to catchment-wide erosion rates of approximately 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, and 0.03 mm/a, respectively. Sediment appears to be sourced predominantly from within the main channel or one its tributaries, originating first from rockfall or landslides. Avalanches thus play an important role at the Guggigraben in transporting loose sediment from temporary storage sites to the fan and main river system. Within the bedrock gully and in the avalanche source region above, signs of abrasive wear were evident on exposed bedrock surfaces. These included rounded and scoured bedrock, fresh boulder impacts, and scratch marks on the gully walls.

Cooperative Management of a Traditional Irrigation System in the Swiss Alps

Traditional channel irrigation systems in Switzerland are managed on a community basis and have high cultural, touristic and ecological values. However, many irrigation communities disappeared in the last decades. This paper analyzes the factors contributing to the continuation of a still existent irrigation community. Our analysis thus provides insights into how to avoid further losses of these unique agricultural systems and to preserve the associated benefits. Based on hypotheses derived from game theoretical analysis, a survey was conducted in an irrigation community located in the canton of Valais. Our results show that the motivation of community members to remain in the traditional system is not a financial one. In contrast, factors such as long-term perspectives, system knowledge, communication and the institutional setting seem to be the basis for the continuation of the analyzed irrigation community. For policy makers, this example shows that the creation of institutions that enable self-governance, communication and knowledge transfer should be considered in this field of rural and agricultural policy making.