Step by step, the construction of a coherent overall restoration on the Seine estuary the role of GIP Seine-Aval Stéphanie Moussard GIP Seine-Aval Seine estuary - France
I-Introduction to the Seine estuary II-ecological preservation and restoration of the Seine estuary over the last 40 years III- GIP Seine-Aval initiatives between 2008-2011 Feedback review Conclusions about identification of potential restoration project IV-Situation in 2012-2014 Priorities to restore and preserve the ecological functions of the estuary
I. The Seine estuary Seine wathershed Seine estuary Loire estuary Gironde estuary Le Havre Rouen Paris GIPSA Le Havre Rouen
II. 40 years Launching Green interruption between Rouen &Le Havre Fishermen pressure (pollution) Pressure of environmental associations (based on European regulations) Normandy Bridge / Port 2000 (Le Havre) Protection against floods + WFD restorations Branding of ports, Development of leisure, living environment, water in the city Environnemental réponse 1973: creation of the Normandy Seine Regional Natural Parc 80's: research program SAUM 1998: creation of the National Nature Reserve of the Seine Estuary 1996/1998: socio-economic and ecological mitigations (creek / mudflats, islands, altar) 90 s/2000: morphological restoration of rivers or water bodies 2003: Start of volunteer restoration by ports 2000 s: recreational facilities based on ecological restoration Le Havre Industrial zone of PJ
III. Situation in 2008 and GIP initiatives Summary of the past experiences : No significant event founder of a overall ecological restoration strong pressures (fishermen, associations, Europe...) regulations (french law of Nature Protection, Natura 2000, WFD, floods directive...) => Growing awareness about the estuary degradation and about the need to act => start of local but scattered initiatives with no real coherence neither between them, nor with the general state of the estuary So partners raise questions They request the GIPSA to help them apprehending restorations priorities on the overall estuary GIP offers to develop at first : A Field approach, which aims to understand the local issues of the restoration (feedback from finished projects, propositions for potential projects) A GIS modeling tool (Functional Habitats ) A research project on 3 major estuaries to define the good potential (BEEST) Scientific knowledge of the ecological functioning of the estuary => Seine-Aval 4
Compensation for loss caused by a urban, industrial or port development Environmental benefit / economic motivations and legal obligations Looking for a good ecological functioning (WFD) Environmental benefit / environmental motivation Restoration of riverbeds & floodplain to protect them from erosion & flooding 1) Safe and economical benefit 2) landscape and environmental benefit / safe or economic motivation. Ecological improvement of a site for a fish issue or for protection of local natural resources, protected or iconic Environmental benefit / activist, recreational or, regulatory motivation Improvement of life environment partly depends restoration of landscape's attractiveness and of the recreation areas they may offer. (As landscapes are partly based on the quality and diversity of the natural environment, it must be restored too.) Social benefit / social motivation Knowledge Feedbacks Experimental benefit / environmental motivations Observations : benefit and motivations
"piles in holes. the restoration of the sand quarry of Yville The motivations : the quarry to find a way of rehabilitation that meets the requirements on landscape and ecology the Port of Rouen to find a less expensive piling sites close to the Seine dredging areas and a socially acceptable storage solution the defenders of Ecology to limit the loss of both peatand mesohaline meadows the local users to find a way to achieve local sustainable development : environment, landscape, economy. Benefit : Study the feasibility of storing dredged material in a wet sand quarry Take advantage of this storage to create interesting ecological habitats and to restore the landscape of the Seine's loop, heavily impacted by artificial water bodies. Install a win-win multi-partnership Objectives : Filling the sand quarry with different topographic levels tanks to dredging sediments
Through Le havre Rouen Before Dredging sediments from The Seine After peatmeadow Shallow pond Reed on peat
Scientific monitoring The transfer of particles and contaminants from dredged sediments into (ground)water. =>The level of sediment contamination is acceptable regarding to the regulation. => The problem is a strong eutrophication Groundwater flow => No disruption Habitats's recolonization after the creation of the three different kind of environments => The main problems are dissolved oxygen due to a strong eutrophication of the water and, the invasive species. The issue of landscape have to be followed at the meander scale Management : Different modes were tested (grazing, pulling...). Quick conclusions : This project had great advantages to allow stakeholders to explore a new way of work together win-win-win to have tested many hypothesis that will be useful for a new similar project But, it is essential to recognize that this project can not be reproduced exactly. New projects involve new monitoring strategies.
Feedbacks Assessments and conclusions Summary of feedbacks of restoration s experiences "We can not always anticipate everything, neither please everyone, nor know everything". Each project is a new experiment that enable learn for the following. Project objectives are not well defined from the beginning => this is felt throughout the rest of the project The difficulty in analyzing the cascade and cumulative effects of restoration s objectives on ecological functions and uses. Multi-benefit and multi-goals projects are still rare (complex) Assessment s objectives are usually not so well define, not scientifically. Much less, money and energy lost. Conclusion : What should we focus on? Help to set clear and various the objectives of restoration projects define consistent objectives with the issues of the overall scale of the estuary implement relevant assessments, scientific assessments when it needs, when it is worth
Potential projects propositions Assessment and conclusions Objectives of the GIP Seine-Aval potential projects propositions GIP also sought to identify and describe potential restoration sites. It is used, pending better, to help project managers to know what they might consider (finally mainly used for ecological compensation) Summury of this approach local, case by case, no depth, mainly focused on hydro-morpho-sedimentary aspects and short-term vision Conclusions Lack of: ambition systemic vision of the functioning of the estuary long-term and overall vision (3D)
IV- Situation in 2012 In brief : Need to help project managers and institutional to Set clear objectives Implement relevant assessments Need to have and take into account of A global vision (3D) A systemic view A temporal trajectory The GIP Seine-aval 1. Leads a projects "Towards restoration and preservation s priorities of ecological functions on the Seine estuary 2. Improves scientific knowledge => research program Seine-Aval 5
Restoration priorities in the whole estuary Issue: Restore ecological functions in order to enable estuary to works and provide a wide range of uses? benefit : Propose ecological coherence scheme of the estuary, on which each project manager could rely on Goals : Define operational 5 and prioritized objectives of ecological restoration at the local scale Objectives => because it is not an action program Prioritization, in time and in space, to avoid unintended consequences Operational => because the objectives result from a systemic approach and from a negotiation Local scale => about few thousand hectares
Organisation du projet 1. Preparatory phase = Understanding the ecological functioning of the estuary 2. Operational phase = Prospective construction of several visions of the estuary in 15 year Improvment of knowledge and tools System evolution (trajectory) Phase x : Revisions - Systemic approach of the ecological functioning -Surveys of challenges of partners about restoration what are the objectives of restoration to implement in the whole estuary to achieve those visions? Experts + GIP Discussions between partners 2012-2014
Restoration is it a fad? Should we talk about restoration or adaptation? Is it relevant to try to assess the effectiveness of ecological restoration on the trajectory of an estuary? If yes, how to do? Thank You