Flumenthal Dam
The Murgenthal Status
The Murgenthal Status stipulates that the flow of the Aare River must not exceed 850m/s (30,000 cu ft/s) at the gauge of Murgenthal's station, which is located downstream of the confluence of the Aare and the Emme rivers. When the Emme river flow increases, the flow of the Aare downstream of their confluence increases accordingly, which may cause flooding downstream in the cantons of Solothurn and Aargau.
Thus, the Status sets the speed that the Aare should not exceed. If the flow increases too much, then the Regulating Dam Port must limit the flow of the Aare upstream, using the three lakes to absorb the crest of the flood, until the Emme's overflow subsides.
Water concession
Approximatively 62% of the concession's length belongs to the canton of Solothurn, the remaining 38% to the canton of Bern. Therefore, the electricity company ATEL is running the operation, while BKW receives 38% dues in electricity.