PILOT PROJECT « WALPHY »: WALLOON EXPERIMENTATION OF RIVER RESTORATION

Poster (2013, March 13)

Pilot project « Walphy » : Walloon experimentation of river restoration

Conference (2012, April 20)

According to the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60), our rivers and water bodies are required to achieve the “good ecological status” by 2015. This requirement is related to the physico-chemical ... [more ▼]

According to the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60), our rivers and water bodies are required to achieve the “good ecological status” by 2015. This requirement is related to the physico-chemical, biological water quality as well as the hydromorphological quality. In this context, a LIFE Environment project, co-founded by the European Union and the Service Publique de Wallonie, was launched in 2009 for a period of five years. It aims to realize the experimental and demonstrative river restoration works on three “at risk” water bodies, based on two axes: longitudinal continuity and transversal continuity. The first two selected water bodies (Bocq, eastern tributary of the Meuse) are suitable for the restoration works which concern the longitudinal continuity due to the presence of dams and other obstacles between 1 and 3 m high. These works consist in dam management (weir removal or fish ladders) taking into account hydromorphological (bedload transport) and biological (invertebrate or fish species free movement) impacts. The third water body (Eau Blanche, western tributary of the Meuse) presents straightened rivers with artificial banks which consequently lead to poor connections between the stream and its floodplain. This water body is therefore appropriated for the works based on the transversal continuity recovery. These works consist in enhancing straightened river channel and restoring meanders or banks. Until now, these works have been realized on more than 5 km. These works are being monitored on the basis of geomorphological and ecological analysis. The geomorphological monitoring is based on surveys conducted before and after the works. It concerns the bedload transport, the clogging of the gravel layer and the morphological changes of the river following the works. The ecological monitoring is based on two indicators: macroinvertebrates and fishes. Standardized and repeatable methods were developed to compare the situation before and after the works, especially through the analysis of microhabitats. In addition, we use another two complementary indexes of physical quality for this monitoring. Developed by the consulting office Teleos, these indexes have a fish orientation and have been implemented in many of our stations. [less ▲]

Comparison of methods for quantifying active layer dynamics and bedload discharge in armoured gravel-bed rivers

in Earth Surface Processes & Landforms (2012), 37

Several methods were employed in the Ardennian rivers (Belgium) to determine the depth of the active layer mobilized during floods and to evaluate the bedload discharge associated with these events. The ... [more ▼]

Several methods were employed in the Ardennian rivers (Belgium) to determine the depth of the active layer mobilized during floods and to evaluate the bedload discharge associated with these events. The use of scour chains has shown that the depth of the active layer is systematically less than the b-axis of the average particle size (D50) of the elements which compose the surface layer of the riffles. This indicates that only a partial transport exists during low magnitude floods. The bedload discharge has been evaluated by combining data obtained using the scour chains technique and the distance covered by tracers. Quantities of sediment transported during frequent floods are relatively low (0 02 t km–2) due to the armour layer which protects the subsurface material. These low values are also related to the fact that the distance calculated for mobilized bedload only applies to tracers fitted with PIT (passive integrated transponder)-tags (diameter>20 mm), whereas part of the bedload discharge is composed of sand and fine gravel transported over greater distances than the pebbles. The break-up of the armour layer was observed only once, for a decennial discharge. During this event, the bedload discharge increased considerably (2 t km–2). The use of sediment traps, data from dredging and a Helley–Smith sampler confirm the low bedload transport in Ardennian rivers in comparison to the bedload transport in other geomorphological contexts. This difference is explained by the presence of an armoured layer but also by the imbricated structures of flat bed elements which increase the resistance to the flow. Finally, the use of the old iron industry wastes allowed to quantify the thickness of the bed reworked over the past centuries. In the Lembrée River, the river-bed contains slag elements up to a depth of about 50 cm, indicating that exceptional floods may rework the bed to a considerable depth. [less ▲]

Mapping the error due to image geometric correction ?

Conference (2011, October 14)

Facteurs de variabilité spatiale des caractéristiques des débits minimums annuels des rivières wallonnes (Belgique)

in Revue des Sciences de l'Eau = Journal of Water Science (2011), 24(3), 311-327

The goal of this study was to determine which environmental factors affect the spatial variability of annual minimum streamflow characteristics for 34 rivers in Wallonia (Belgium) using two complementary ... [more ▼]

The goal of this study was to determine which environmental factors affect the spatial variability of annual minimum streamflow characteristics for 34 rivers in Wallonia (Belgium) using two complementary methods: theascending hierarchical classification method and the linear correlation method. Both methods were applied after principal component analysis transformation was applied to the data. The ascending hierarchical classification method (Ward’s method) identified the effect of lithology and anthropogenic activity (groundwater pumping) on the fundamental characteristics of annual minimum flows. Rivers that drain a relatively permeable substrate are characterized by very high flow volumes with low interannual variability, high interannual variability of the period of occurrence, and small asymmetry coefficients. Rivers that drain low permeability or impermeable substrates show the opposite patterns. Rivers in which flow is subjected to artificial influences are characterized by greater variability of the magnitude and of the period of occurrence of annual minimum flows than natural rivers. Analysis of linear correlations between streamflow characteristics and environmental factors highlighted a correlation between the form of the distribution curves of annual minimum flows and several environmental factors (climate, land use, location and physiographic characteristics of the watersheds). [less ▲]

Design of a decision tool for hydromorphological restoration of water bodies in Walloon Region

Conference (2010, May 05)

The pilot project WALPHY (LIFE + Environment LIFE07 ENV/B/000038, UE-funded) develops a structured approach aiming at improving hydromorphological quality of the upstream Meuse basin in order to achieve ... [more ▼]

The pilot project WALPHY (LIFE + Environment LIFE07 ENV/B/000038, UE-funded) develops a structured approach aiming at improving hydromorphological quality of the upstream Meuse basin in order to achieve the “good ecological status” required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60). It began in January 2009 for a period of 5 years. River’s biological recovery needs the recovery of river’s structure and physical dynamics. Returning to "good ecological status" inevitably involves physical restoration of affected rivers. Physical component of aquatic environment acts as a limiting factor for their functioning. Three types of modification are key obstacles for river good ecological status: (i) fluxes alteration (discharge, sedimentation. . . ), (ii) forms alteration (uniform facies. . . ) and (iii) biotopes access alteration (lateral connections breaks, modification of the continuity upstream/ downstream. . . ). Therefore hydromorphology is needed to implement the WFD. To respond to this legal necessity, we develop a unique, useful and suitable methodology in Walloon Region to determine and schedule river physical quality restoration works. This methodology has been applied on 3 “risk water bodies”. The works are based on two axes : longitudinal continuity and transversal continuity. The two first selected water bodies (Bocq river, eastern tributary of the Meuse) seem to be convenient for the restoration works which concern the longitudinal continuity due to the presence of dams and other obstacles usually between 1 and 3 m high. These works consist in dam management (weir removal or fish passage) taking into account hydromorphological (bedload transport) and biological (invertebrate or fish species free movement) impacts. The third water bodies (Eau Blanche river, western tributary of the Meuse) presents straightened rivers with artificial banks, witch consequently own bad connections between the stream and its floodplain. This water bodies should therefore be appropriated for the works based on the transversal continuity recovery. They consist in enhancing straightened river channels, restoring meanders or bank restoration. The first river restoration works will take place from summer 2010. A monitoring has already been undertaken to draw up the situation before the restoration works, witch will be able to compare to the situations during and after works. In addition, a natural site has been chosen to enable any comparison with the intervention sites. The geomorphological monitoring is based on physical and sedimentological parameters (substrate cartography, velocity measures, stream channel DEM, topography and sedimentological index). The ecological monitoring consists in analysing the physical and chemical parameters (turbidity, suspended sediment load). It also analyses the biological quality through 3 indicators: macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fishes. Among other, a microhabitats method has been improved and applied on 3 intervention sites and 1 natural site. The microhabitats cartography results from both the flow velocity cartography and the substrate cartography. With this method, the physical quality of each intervention site could be compared with the natural site and above all with the future situation. Our method is also useful to inventory precisely invertebrates and to characterise fish habitats. [less ▲]

Shape and amount of the Quaternary uplift of the western Rhenish shield and the Ardennes (western Europe)

in Tectonophysics (2009), 474

A good evaluation of the Quaternary uplift of the Rhenish shield is a key element for the understanding of the Cenozoic geodynamics of the western European platform in front of the alpine arc. Previous ... [more ▼]

A good evaluation of the Quaternary uplift of the Rhenish shield is a key element for the understanding of the Cenozoic geodynamics of the western European platform in front of the alpine arc. Previous maps of the massif uplift relied on fluvial incision data since the time of the rivers' Younger Main Terrace to infer a maximum post-0.73 Ma uplift of ~290 m in the SE Eifel. Here, we propose a new interpretation of the incision data of the intra-massif streams, where anomalies in the terrace profiles would result from knickpoint retreat in the tributaries of the main rivers rather than from tectonic deformation. We also use additional geomorphological data referring to (1) deformed Tertiary planation surfaces, (2) the history of stream piracy that severely affected the Meuse basin in the last 1 Ma, and (3) incision data outside the Rhenish shield. A new map of the post-0.73 Ma uplift of the Rhenish shield is drawn on the basis of this enlarged dataset. It reduces the maximum amount of tectonic uplift in the SE Eifel to ~140 m and modifies the general shape of the uplift, namely straightening its E–W profile. It is also suggested that an uplift wave migrated across the massif, starting from its southern margin in the early Pleistocene and currently showing the highest intensity of uplift in the northern Ardennes and Eifel. These features seem to favour an uplift mechanism chiefly related to lithospheric folding and minimize the impact on the topography of a more local Eifel plume. [less ▲]

Can turbulence statistics reflect the meso-habitat choice of juvenile salmonids

in Proceedings of the combined conference on Hydro-Informatics and Ecohydraulics, Concepcion, Chile, January 2009. (2009)

Variables commonly used to describe the physical habitat of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. parr are average velocity, water depth, and substrate. A variety of micro- and meso-habitat models have been ... [more ▼]

Variables commonly used to describe the physical habitat of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. parr are average velocity, water depth, and substrate. A variety of micro- and meso-habitat models have been developed using these variables to assess habitat quality. However, Atlantic salmon parr live in highly turbulent streams and rivers, in which intense fluctuations of water velocity occur. Laboratory experiments have shown that turbulence affects the behavior and energetics of fish. Nevertheless, habitat use in relation to the strong temporal variability of velocity in natural environments has rarely been studied. In this study, Atlantic salmon parr habitat was examined in relation to turbulence in the Patapédia River, Québec, Canada. We analyzed meso-habitat use in relation to several dynamic hydraulic variables. Our results revealed that in a natural turbulent condition, parr displayed high individual variability in habitat use in relation to turbulence. Such heterogeneous use of habitat suggests that individuals are not constrained to a single habitat type but that they have a tendency to use areas with lower turbulence. [less ▲]

Etude géomorphologique des barrages de travertin du Hoyoux

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2008)

Behavioural tactics and spawning activity of rheophilic cyprinids radio-tracked in the transition zone between natural flow and minimum flow conditions

Conference (2007, June)

Using water resources for hydro-electricity production influences and limits the quality and quantity of habitat available for use by resident fishes. Changes in the fish community structure after setting ... [more ▼]

Using water resources for hydro-electricity production influences and limits the quality and quantity of habitat available for use by resident fishes. Changes in the fish community structure after setting minimum flow conditions have been more frequently studied than the behavioural adaptations of fish living in the vicinity of the disturbed river section. In the River Amblève (River Meuse basin, Belgium), a hydraulic power plant bypasses the river over a length of 10 km. Adult nase Chondrostoma nasus (n=10) and barbel Barbus barbus (n=8) were captured in the restitution zone of the turbinated flow several weeks before their reproduction periods. They were equipped with implant radio transmitters and manually and intensively tracked over several months to more than 1 year. The environmental conditions (water temperature and flow) as well as the geomorphology of the river were compared in both natural and flow-regulated sections. Nase and barbel demonstrated the capacity to map their contrasted environment and adapted their space and habitat utilisation as well as the choice of their spawning sites in relation with their specific biological characteristics and the environmental variations. The results are discussed in the context of the management of fish movements in flow-regulated rivers. [less ▲]