Datasets · Water
Protected watercourses, already linked to every property.
Watercourses protected from hydropower development by the national protection plan for watercourses, a legal designation adopted by the Storting over several decades. In practice, protection means that no licence can be granted for new hydropower development in the watercourse. Other development and activity is not automatically prohibited: ordinary Planning and Building Act rules and national policy guidelines still apply.
What the dataset contains
Protected watercourses in Placepoint
Watercourses protected from hydropower development by the national protection plan for watercourses, a legal designation adopted by the Storting over several decades. In practice, protection means that no licence can be granted for new hydropower development in the watercourse. Other development and activity is not automatically prohibited: ordinary Planning and Building Act rules and national policy guidelines still apply.
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) manages the dataset. For developers, it matters for any project involving hydropower or watercourses, and as input when assessing consideration zones and impact assessments. Part of Placepoint's map layers for water and energy. Related: Watercourses and catchments, Hydropower, Water bodies.
This text is based on the dataset documentation, synced 16 October 2026.
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Water bodies for both surface water and groundwater.
About the datasetWatercourses and catchments
A watercourse is a connected system of rivers, streams, lakes and glaciers within a catchment area. It runs from its sources in forest and mountains down to a shared outlet in the sea, a lake or a larger river.
About the datasetHow often is the protected watercourses data updated?
Weekly. The frequency follows the source and is shown on the dataset in Placepoint.
Where does the data come from?
From Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat. We collect and quality-check the data, then link it to the right property, with source and date on every field.
How do I see protected watercourses on a property?
Look up the address in Fusion and turn on the Water map layer. The dataset is a separate layer there, and you see the details in the property panel when you click on the map.
Can I get the dataset programmatically?
Yes. The same data is available in Placepoint API and in Placepoint AI through MCP, so you can bring it into your own systems and agents.
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