Nothing allows in the middle of summer to see the Briançon below Théziers. Just a small trickle of water, harmless. And yet, this small stream which has its source in Domazan and crosses Théziers, Montfrin and Vallabrègues can turn into a real torrent in the event of heavy rain. The town no longer counts the number of times its lower districts have been flooded. “This small stream can cause enormous damage to crops and homes “confirms Mayor Murielle Garcia-Favand.”We have been 13 times classified as a natural disaster” remembers the former mayor Alain Carrière. The Briançon was however regularly the subject of developments. But the dykes, built in the past no longer fulfilled their role.
A site of more than ten years for 7 km
In 2011, the EPTB (Etablissement Public Territorial de Bassin) Gardons, the union in charge of water issues at the level of the Gardons watershed, became the contracting authority for a physical restoration operation of Briançon. An operation that will last ten years. “It’s long, but each step is essential explains Etienne Retailleau, deputy director of the EPTB. We first had to carry out studies to see how we could carry out this project, how we could finance it, then we had to obtain the authorizations from the administration. Then there was a very substantial land component. We bought 22 hectares for this project. A hundred land units. Each time, you have to contact people, explain to them and find common ground to buy. In the end, we arrive at the construction phase which is quite fast since in six months, we had done all the earthworks. It then took two years of maintenance to ensure that the 20,000 plants that we put on 3km5 resume. It represents a lung for the river and for local residents.”
Reduce the risk of flooding
Above all, this work has reduced the risk of flooding. “The idea is to give back space to the river explains Karina Bonacina, director of the Montpellier delegation of the Rhône Méditerranée Corse Agency _so that he can find flood extension fields. It allows him to dissipate his energy and arrive downstream with less power and be less destructive. Nature-based solutions are sustainable and highly effective solutions. What is needed today is a_stop building on flood expansion areas.” Today, the Briançon is no longer “corseted”. Its bed has been widened over seven km. Two dilapidated bridges have been replaced by fords. The operation amounting to 3.7 million d euros was financed by the European FEDER fund, the Water Agency, the Department of Gard and the EPTB Gardons.
– EPTB Let’s keep