Free space for Rivers – Mobility space for the active rivers example of the Loire and the Allier

1. Free space for Rivers – Mobility space for the active rivers example of the Loire and the Allier RESTORE Workshop – Policy to deliver landuse planning, and river restoration for River Basin Management November 2011, PARIS 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

2. Natural Areas Conservancies Federation federating 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…)

3. 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 ».

4. Definition and determination of the free space for rivers →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.

5. First applications and Developments • 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)

6. 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.“

7. Application Reference document →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.

9. The Loire basin 117 000 km²1/5 France 1013 km 10 millions inhabitants

10. Perturbations and Impacts

11. Perturbations and Impacts

12. 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

13. Up/down – stream dichotomy • Upstream : strongly meandering river course • High filling potential • Loire « Bourbonnaise » andAllier • Downstream : strongly contained rivercourse • Big damms (from the Bec d’Allier) • Navigability installations

14. Main dynamic watercourse parts in the Loire basin

15. Water Framework (DCE) More than 60 % of the watercourses are morphologically damaged

16. The « Loire Nature » Plan 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. Second Phase 2002-2006 Objective : 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).

17. Example in the Loire basin : Project in the Auvergne

18. Illustrations sites Méandres des Granges Joze-Maringues Bec de Dore Pré Redan Méandres des Germains Varennes-Moulins

19. Suivi de l’érosion Some very dynamic sections : 14 meters/year of bank erosion

20. Sites on the Allier river

21. Diachro Chatel Allier evolution in Chatel-le-Neuvre 1884-1998

22. Occupation du sol Optimal mobility space in the Varennes-Moulins area : River section of 26 km 10 collectivities 500 to 2 500m wide Surfaces of 3 200 ha incl. 1 700 ha of DPF (52 %) 1 500 ha private 15 % forests 6 % grassland 39 % cultivated

23. Key area • erosion capacities (actual or short term) • ecological diversity • restoration and use possibilities • anthropic pressures • 24 territories, 1 057 ha total surfaces • 12 Priority 1 ( 564 ha) • 12 Priority 2 ( 493 ha)

24. Project Facts : • 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

25. 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.

26. Agricultural management which is :- compatible with Erosion and Inundation risks - acceptable for water resources and biological diversity Unmanaged forests A long term contracting with the users/inhabitants

27. Awareness Rising

28. 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 • Objective 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 • Project • True interest of the inhabitants and public bodies • More than 50 partners • Exchange made easy through a subject different than ecology.

29. Principal projects in the water, spaces, species platform • 9 Projects supported by the FEDER • 4 dynamic sectors on the Allier • And 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)

30. Thank you