Free space for Rivers –

Mobility space for the active rivers

example of the Loire and the Allier

Dr. Stéphanie Hudin –Centre de Ressources du patrimoine naturel et des zones humides du bassin de la Loire

Fédération des Conservatoires d’espaces naturels, Orléans, France

RESTORE Workshop – Policy to deliver landuse planning, and river restoration for River Basin Management

November 2011, PARIS

Natural Areas Conservancies Federationfederating natural areas management associations

• Non-profit associations – involved but not activists ;• 21 regional and 8 departmental Conservancies • 558 employees, 1800 volunteers et 8500 members• 2054 managed sites (117.000 Ha) and involved in the

management of almost 600.000 Ha (Natura 2000 Docob, agri-environmental agreements, Sensitive Natural Areas, military fields…)

Free Space for Rivers – Development of the

concept • 1980, Tours, « Conference on the ecology and the

management of the Loire »• 1981 Dr. Guinard publishes the first scientific article on

the caracteristics and originality of the Allier River (Guinard, 1981)

• 1982-83 PIREN Rhône ; first apparition of the Hydrosystem concept. .

• National Days for the Water (1991)→ « the river’s free space, expression of the river’s

dynamics, minus the existing installations, has to be recognized and identified also through the law. »

→ As a result of the long-lasting effects of the gravel exploitation, it is « best to tolerate the riverbank erosion in order to restore the past state ».

→ A management concept that was first of all an evaluated „reserved space“ for the rivers to:

- maintain the capacity to adapt to the surfaces

(development of turns or shortenings) ;

- garantee the production of sediments (through the

riverbanks erosion) ;

- protect the groundwater qualities (by protecting against

the riverbed‘s incision) ;

- protect the particularities and even the originalities of the

ecological dynamics.

Definition and determination of the free space for rivers

• Different French projects which have taken part in the refining of the concept :- the CEPA, LPO and CSA project on the Allier (1990-)- the Mosel and Maas project coordinated by the Rhine-Maas water agency and the Conservatoire des Sites lorrains (1990-)- the Rhône project coordinated by the Rhône Mediterrannée Corse water agency (1990-)- the Doubs and Loue project coordinated by the Franche-Comté DIREN - the Adour project by the Adour Institute (2000-)

• International programs through which there were exchanges on the concept :- « Rivers need room» « Flüsse brauchen Platz » project in the Alps- a Tchech-Polisch Oder river project coordinated by WWF

→ This approach has been introduced to the French basin water management and planning. (2006 u. 2009)

First applications and Developments

Gesetzlicher Ausführung und Bewahrung

• 24th January 2001 decree on the gravel exploitation (Erosion/Riverbanks’ destruction/Riverbed capture - risk possibility)- 1st art: „ Gravelpits are banned from the free mobility space of the watercourses“. - 2nd art: „ The free mobility space of the watercourses is defined in the geomorphogeological valley in which the river its bed can have.“

• The 2003-699 law of the 30st July 2003 on the technological and natural risk prevention (combined approach)- Art. Number 48 opens up the possibility to the introduction of a servitude „to preserve the mobility space or to restore it.“

→ Guide de détermination de l’espace de liberté des cours d’eau. 1998, SDAGE RMC (et Malavoi and al.)

- Methodological guide to define the mobility space…

NO precise delimitation.

Application Reference document

The Loire basin

117 000 km²1/5 France1013 km10 millions inhabitants

Perturbations and Impacts

Perturbations and Impacts

• Dams→ Water volumes modifications

• Riverbanks riprap→ Lateral erosion capacity loss

• Gravel pit→ Alluvial potential reduced

• → Riverbed incision

• Loss of natural habitats (fluvial annexes, alluvial forests…)

• Effects on the hydraulic structures

• Effects on the quantity & quality of the water resources

Perturbations and Impacts

• Upstream : strongly meandering river course– High filling potential– Loire « Bourbonnaise » andAllier

• Downstream : strongly contained rivercourse– Big damms (from the Bec d’Allier)– Navigability installations

Up/down – stream dichotomy

Main dynamic watercourse parts in the Loire basin

Water Framework (DCE)

More than 60 % of the watercourses are

morphologically damaged

First Phase 1993-1998

- Life program : 12 sites, 8 nature protection organizations, 8 Millions € ;- Applications of pratical methods for the Loire ecosystem management and protection ; - Financing of studies on the hydrology and morphology of the Loire and the Allier;- At the start based on the mobility space, the concept of the free space for rivers was developed through this program.

→ 30 km riverbanks bought = 1140 ha mobility space  « secured » → the EPTEAU Study in 1997-1998 defined a first Theory of a « free »

space for rivers and its potential buying costs

→ Positive balance between participants collaborative work and the application of an innovative method.

The « Loire Nature » Plan

Second Phase 2002-2006Objective : restoration of natural areas

- 15 Millions € - 15 Nature protection NGOs and about 100 Project sites

→ Land buying continuation and awareness campaign ; → Legal studies on the erosion problemns and on the mobility space

servitude; (art. 48 of the 30st. July 2003).

Example in the Loire basin : Project in the Auvergne

Illustrations sitesJoze-MaringuesMéandres des Granges

Méandres des

Germains

Varennes-Moulins

Bec de Dore

Pré Redan

Suivi de l’érosion

EVOLUTION DE LA SURFACE ERODEE A BOUDEMANGE EN FONCTION DES DEBITS JOURNALIERSDE L'ALLIER A MOULINS ENTRE LE 14 DECEMBRE 1999 ET LE 16 DECEMBRE 2003

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Dates

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Débit journalier

Erosion

Débit moyenmensuel

Nbre jours débit supau module (* 10)

Crue biennale : 710 m3/s

Dc10 : 489 m3/s

Dc5 : 600 m3/s

Dc30 : 343 m3/s

Module : 150 m3/s

Crue quinquennale : 1000 m3/s

Crue décennale : 1200 m3/s

Crue vicennale : 1400 m3/s

Some very dynamic sections :14 meters/year of bank erosion

Sites on the Allier river

Diachro ChatelAllier evolution in Chatel-le-Neuvre 1884-1998

Occupation du solOptimal mobility space in theVarennes-Moulins area : River section of 26 km10 collectivities500 to 2 500m wide

Surfaces of 3 200 ha incl. 1 700 ha of DPF (52 %) 1 500 ha private

15 % forests 6 % grassland39 % cultivated

24 territories, 1 057 ha total surfaces

- 12 Priority 1 ( 564 ha)

- 12 Priority 2 ( 493 ha)

Key area- erosion capacities (actual or

short term)- ecological diversity- restoration and use possibilities- anthropic pressures

Over 26 km River length, of which 48% surfaces lie in the mobility space f the public domain.

- 170 ha bought since 1993

61 % Priority 1

32 % Priority 2

- 92 % in the mobility space

- average cost = 3 220 €/ha

(100 m enrockment for protection of 1 ha = 15 à 30 000 € )

- these 170 ha are to 10 % in private property,

→ of which 5,6 ha eroded surfaces between 2000 and 2005 in private property, 2,3 ha so 41 % were bought by the Loire Nature Project

Project Facts :

Land Buying : Limits and Problems

• Buying all the the mobility space land is not possible and not to be wished for :

It is necessary to define the « priority surfaces »

• Limited Funds

• Speculation risks : offer/demand

• Use of public funds for private interest

• not willing proprietors: behinderte Verkäufe, Herstellung von Einschliessungen

• Kleinstparzellierung : Häufung von Besitzern und Verteuerung des Notarkosten.

Agricultural management which is :- compatible with Erosion and Inundation risks

- acceptable for water resources and biological diversity

A long term contracting with the users/inhabitants Unmanaged forests

Awareness Rising

Loire Nature and more : an innovative action of the Allier Conservancy

Objective : to develop the inhabitants to the perservation of a free space for rivers

• Through the natural particularities

Conservancy’s speciality, but to little interested (),

• Through the historical and cultural particularities

Existence of the rich historical and cultural inheritance around the river, esp. when linked to the navigation

To share the knowledge and the expression of the Allier meandering

To raise awareness of the inhabitant of the river’s dynamic importance

Ease the exchange

• Objective

Project

True interest of the inhabitants and public bodiesMore than 50 partners Exchange made easy through a subject different than ecology.

Principal projects in the water, spaces, species platform

• 9 Projects supported by the FEDER4 dynamic sectors on the AllierAnd 3 on the Loire

CRE ZH of the val d'Allier, CRE ZH of the val de Loire Auvergne région, CG 03, CG 63, CG 43, CEPA, CSA, LPO Auvergne

• Sensibilisation / Animation Exhibit « Sur les traces de l’Allier » (CSA, 2008)Technical séminars in 2008, 2009, 2011

In the research, datas, informations platform • Research projects on géomorphology• Pedagogic tool on River dynamics (LPO Auvergne,

2009)

Thank you