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 ▲]

Analyse des débits en période de tarissement : Essai d'une typologie régionale appliquée à des rivières du bassin de la Meuse (Belgique)

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2012), 59

Low flow discharge was analysed in twenty-five rivers of the midlands and highlands of Belgium, particularly during periods when base flow was supplied by aquifers. Recession curves were elaborated: these ... [more ▼]

Low flow discharge was analysed in twenty-five rivers of the midlands and highlands of Belgium, particularly during periods when base flow was supplied by aquifers. Recession curves were elaborated: these were “sequence curves” and not “tangent curves”. In general, two recession coefficients may be identified. In addition, we determined the percentage of “rapid runoff flood” within a regional perspective. It is apparent that this flow varies with the level of the water table. We also tried to estimate the groundwater recharge used in Thornthwaite’s simplified model. This was undertaken by estimating the amount of rain needed before observing a significant increase in discharge, following pronounced drought episodes such as those of 1976 and 2003. Finally, working on discharges during periods of low flow, we looked at the role of beaver dams as a factor contributing to low flow, as has been suggested recently in the literature. From our observations, it appears beaver dams do not influence the characteristic low flow discharge. Furthermore, an analysis of the evolution of the characteristic low flow dicsharge in rivers where there are no beaver dams shows some variability. This leads us, first of all, to qualify the influence of beaver dams, at least on the hydrological regime of these water courses (which are always located at the top of the watershed) but also to question the relevance of characteristic low flow discharge as a descriptor of low flow. [less ▲]

L'origine des mégalithes du Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgique)

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2012), 58

Origin of megaliths of the Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgium). Distribution of megaliths was studied in the Ambleve valley throughout its gorge developed within the quartzites of the Cambrian-aged La ... [more ▼]

Origin of megaliths of the Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgium). Distribution of megaliths was studied in the Ambleve valley throughout its gorge developed within the quartzites of the Cambrian-aged La Venne Formation (Fond de Quarreux) in the south-eastern part of high Belgium. The high concentration of megaliths at this place can be essentially explained by mass movements which have occurred on the adjacent slopes in periglacial periods of cold Ocean Isotopic Stages in Quaternary times, and especially the coldest ones i.e. even O.I.S.#22 through #2. Stratigraphical studies of deposits in the Chefna and Ambleve valleys allowed us to place final periglacial deposits during the Younger Dryas. The critical shear stress and the critical unit stream power are used in order to evaluate the Ambleve River competence. It results that, under the present climatic conditions, this river cannot move boulders of more than 50 cm in diameter. Hence, it is concluded that ice rafting has been the main process responsible for carrying away the megaliths which have got the Ambleve river bed throughout the Quaternary Period. [less ▲]

Restauration hydromorphologique : Les échelles de travail optimales ?

Conference (2011, October 03)

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 ▲]

Long-term bedload mobility in gravel-bed rivers using iron slag as a tracer

in Geomorphology (2011), 126

Bedload dispersion is evaluated in gravel-bed rivers using slag elements from ironworks established along rivers in the Ardenne region, between the fourteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Large ... [more ▼]

Bedload dispersion is evaluated in gravel-bed rivers using slag elements from ironworks established along rivers in the Ardenne region, between the fourteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Large quantities of slag were dumped close to these rivers or even directly into the channels. For centuries, slag elements were dispersed in the bedload and transported by floods of varying importance. Consequently, slag may be considered as a reliable tracer to analyze bedload dispersion over several centuries. The size of slag elements was studied along 16 Ardenne rivers. The longitudinal size trend of the largest slag particles allows the effective competence of these rivers to be determined (between 19 and 129 mm for rivers where specific stream power for the bankfull discharge ranges between 20 and 134 W/m²). A direct relationship doesn’t exist between these two parameters as the size of slag elements must be considered with regard to the D50 of the bed. Selective transport was analyzed directly downstream of the input sites. The sorting distance varies from river to river and depends on the velocity of the coarse elements introduced into the river since the inception of the iron industry. Downstream of two metallurgic sites, the slag propagation fronts were located. As the periods of activity at these sites are known from historical studies, the virtual velocity of bedload movement in these rivers was estimated to be 2-4 km/century. [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 ▲]

Etude et modélisation des impacts hydrologiques de pluies exceptionnelles dans un environnement valloné et boisé

Scientific conference (2009, September)

Le jeudi 29 mai 2008 a eu lieu en région liégeoise un événement pluvieux extrême qui a eu des conséquences (humaines et financières) douloureuses. Pour rappel, une pluie de courte durée, mais très intense ... [more ▼]

Le jeudi 29 mai 2008 a eu lieu en région liégeoise un événement pluvieux extrême qui a eu des conséquences (humaines et financières) douloureuses. Pour rappel, une pluie de courte durée, mais très intense (lame d’eau d’environ 90 litres par mètre carré en moins de 2 heures) sur le domaine du Sart Tilman a provoqué des inondations très soudaines (communément appelées « flash-floods ») aux abords des ruisseaux descendant du Sart Tilman vers la Meuse et l’Ourthe. Des évènements du même type ont eu lieu dans les semaines suivantes en région liégeoise (Remicourt, …). La méthodologie développée lors cette étude devait donc être transférable à d’autres applications. Le choix du Sart Tilman comme cas d’étude s’imposait cependant vu la bonne connaissance préliminaire du site par les équipes de l’ULg et la concentration des phénomènes extrêmes. Un tel évènement interpelle et amène à chercher à comprendre le phénomène, à le reproduire de façon théorique et à l’anticiper. Ainsi, à l’initiative de la Ministre de la recherche scientifique de la Communauté Française (Marie-Dominique Simonet), l’Aquapôle a fédéré un travail multidisciplinaire visant à décrire les mécanismes de ces événements extrêmes et à reproduire les impacts hydrologiques de ces pluies exceptionnelles à l’échelle locale, dans un environnement boisé et vallonné. Un des objectifs principaux de ce travail était d’obtenir une méthodologie incluant un modèle intégré permettant d’abord de représenter l’évènement, puis par la simulation de scénarios de tester l’effet spécifique de certains facteurs. En effet, outre la complexité de la dynamique météorologique qui les a générés (ces événements exceptionnels ont présenté des caractéristiques homogènes mais à une échelle très locale), les conséquences de l’évènement ont été le fruit de la combinaison complexe d’une série de facteurs environnementaux et humains : nature des sols, topographie locale, couverture végétale, ouvrages anthropiques et urbanisation, etc. De plus, pour effectuer une modélisation hydrologique physiquement basée et spatialement distribuée, il est nécessaire de disposer de nombreuses informations issues de sources différentes. L’approche pluridisciplinaire exigée pour la rencontre de ces phénomènes a pu être rapidement appréhendée à l’Aquapôle de l’Université de Liège. En particulier, l’existence de modèles compartimentaux intégrés a permis de tenir compte de la dynamique des bassins versants, de la nature hydrogéologique des sols et de la complexité des écoulements de surface et/ou sur l’axe hydraulique. Cette approche de modélisation opérationnelle et pragmatique a tout d’abord nécessité la collecte et la préparation d’un grand nombre de données (dans les environnements cartographiques appropriés) afin d’alimenter les modèles et de créer des bases de données. Ce volet a impliqué un noyau d’équipes composées de topo-climatologues, de topographes, d’hydrauliciens, d’hydrogéologues et d’intégrateurs numériques de façon à prendre en considération l’ensemble des processus et paramètres pertinents à l’atteinte de l’objectif visé. Sur base de la description des processus et de leurs dynamiques spatiale et temporelle ayant abouti à ces catastrophes, l’Aquapôle a pu reproduire et mettre en évidence les événements grâce à des outils de simulations numériques s’appuyant sur une description fine de la météorologie et de la topographie locale, des ouvrages d’art existants et des spécificités locales de toute nature (anthropiques et naturelles). Le dernier volet de cette étude a été dédié à l’élaboration intégrée de scénarios de simulation pour l’utilisation du modèle WOLF HYDRO : un modèle hydrologique spatialement et temporellement distribué qui est principalement développé pour représenter les transferts quasi horizontaux prépondérants en périodes de crues. Son approche physiquement basée lui permet d’utiliser au mieux les différentes informations disponibles. Il a été utilisé dans cette étude, en s’appuyant sur les informations générées par les autres équipes. Pour les trois bassins versants étudiés, de caractéristiques sensiblement différentes, la méthodologie employée permet d’aboutir à des hydrogrammes réalistes pour l’épisode du 29 mai 2008. Des scénarios multiples ont également permis de vérifier la sensibilité du modèle, de tester l’influence d’aménagements potentiels sur le bassin versant (changements d’occupation des sols, création de bassins d’orage, …) et de fournir des résultats pour des pluies de récurrences fixées d’une durée proche de l’événement principal. Les observations réalisées lors de l’événement et les résultats de la modélisation permettent de conclure au fait que l’événement de mai 2008 est véritablement extrême et qu’aucun équipement raisonnable n’aurait pu aboutir à un affaiblissement significatif des débits observés aux exutoires des ruisseaux. Les pics de crues sont en effet parfois proches du double de ceux observés pour une crue bi-centennale. Ainsi, lors d’un tel événement, seul un aménagement prudent de l’habitat aux abords des ruisseaux peut amener à une réduction des dommages matériels. En effet, la délivrance de permis d’urbanisme sur le cours d’eau ou à son voisinage immédiat aggrave les conséquences de ces phénomènes exceptionnels. Enfin, conformément à la notification du Gouvernement Wallon (séance du 3 juin 2009), les résultats de la recherche FL², confiée par la Communauté Française à l’ULg, seront intégrés dans les travaux du GTI (Groupe Transversal Inondations). Ces résultats ont fait l’objet d’une présentation collégiale au GTI le 5 octobre 2009 et d’une présentation à destination des communes et d’un public large et ouvert le 19 novembre 2009. [less ▲]

Habitat Choice by Atlantic Salmon Parr in Relation to Turbulence at a Reach Scale

in North American Journal of Fisheries Management (2009), 29(6), 1819-1830

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

The variables commonly used to describe the physical habitat of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr are average velocity, water depth, and substrate. A variety of micro- and mesohabitat 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 Patapedia River, Quebec. Rather than taking the usual approach of surveying a large population at one point in time, we used an intensive radiotelemetry tracking survey that focused on the habitat use of a few individual fish over an extended period. We analyzed habitat use in relation to several dynamic hydraulic variables. Our results revealed that under naturally turbulent conditions, the parr displayed high individual variability in their habitat use. Such heterogeneous use of habitat suggests that individuals are not constrained to a single habitat type. Furthermore, no differences were observed in habitat use among the four daily periods (dawn, day, dusk, and night) for individual parr. [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 ▲]