PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Loire river is considered to be one of the last wild rivers of Europe. The whole river was designated under the Natura 2000 network.
River regulation works and aggregate extraction have led to an incision of the Loire River bed in its upstream section, particularly in the Forez plain, which is targeted by the LIFE project. Today, the sediment deficit downstream of the Grangent dam is estimated at 15,000 m³ per year. The water line is lowering, resulting in a disconnection between the river and its ecologically important riverbanks and its riparian vegetation. The riparian habitat types of community interest (HICs), which are highly dependent on fluctuations in water levels, are directly affected and so are wildlife species.
The project builds on previous studies which show the need to restore the Loire river dynamics as well as restore natural habitats and reconnect river annexes, with many expected positive effects on several species (birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, plants).
The project aims at experimenting different methods of interventions on a first 30-km stretch of river. Following the results of the project, other morphological restoration works are expected to be replicated on new sites.
OBJECTIVES
The first objective of the LIFE Loire en Forez project is to return nearly 60,000 m³ of sediment to the river over the duration of the project. This will be achieved by restoring the mobility of the alluvial deposits and reactivating the lateral erosion of the riverbed. This should lead to a sustainable reconstitution, over a 30-km stretch, of the alluvial mattress in the river bed, which is essential for the proper functioning of all the ecosystems linked to the river.
The innovative approach chosen for the Loire Forézienne, combining various methods of interventions, is above all intended to be highly replicable. The project is expected to improve the knowledge of the dynamics of the river and its links with the habitats and species it supports. Hydromorphological and ecological monitoring activities will be implemented to identify and evaluate these interactions very precisely. Extensive public communication will also be set up to ensure the widest possible dissemination of results.
Specific objectives are:
Restore the Loire river dynamics with 30 km of river impacted and 61,000 m³ of sediments directly remobilised;
Restore natural habitats along the Loire with the recreation of 34 ha of open habitats (of community interest) and the restoration of 100 ha of alluvial forest;
Restore 4 river annexes to improve natural habitats extension and conservation of associated species;
Increase numbers and improve conservation status of several protected species by recreating or restoring their natural habitats, the main targeted species being: common tern, common kingfisher, little ringed plover, common sandpiper, European bee-eater, sand martin and yellow-bellied toad;
Monitor the results of the works on the river dynamics and on the species and habitats;
Disseminate the project issues and results to both professional stakeholders and the general public.
RESULTS
The main expected results are:
Restore the Loire river dynamics with 30 km of river impacted and 61,000 m³ of sediments directly remobilised;
Restore natural habitats along the Loire with the recreation of 34 ha of open habitats (of community interest) and the restoration of 100 ha of alluvial forest;
Improve numbers and conservation status of several species;
Raise public awareness of river morphology issues with 120,000 people informed (elected representatives, professionals, general public, school children).
