Restauration hydromorphologique des cours d’eau en Région wallonne : le projet Walphy

Scientific conference (2013, March 13)

L'effet des barrages de castors sur le système hydrographique

Conference given outside the academic context (2012)

Estimation de la sédimentation dans les retenues provoquées par les barrages de castor. Impact en aval des barrages sur l'incision des rivières. Localisarion des barrages de castor en relation avec la ... [more ▼]

Estimation de la sédimentation dans les retenues provoquées par les barrages de castor. Impact en aval des barrages sur l'incision des rivières. Localisarion des barrages de castor en relation avec la tailled es rivières (ordination des cours d'eau). Discussion sur les conséquences éventuelles des retenues sur les débits d'étiage. [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 ▲]

Restauration hydromorphologique : Les échelles de travail optimales ?

Conference (2011, October 03)

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 ▲]

La Cartographie des Zones Inondées : Approche géomorphologique et Enquêtes de Terrain

in Les risques majeurs en Région wallonne : prévenir en aménageant (2006)