©Roberto Epple, ERN

Introduction

The Loire is one of the largest rivers in France. The Vienne and Creuse rivers are important tributaries of the Loire, their confluence occurs just west of Tours, in the region of Brittany.

The Maisons-Rouges Dam was erected in 1922, about 800m downstream from the confluence of the Vienne and Creuse rivers (Figure 12). The dam maintained a head-level difference of about 4m. Built initially to supply a paper factory, it was integrated into the assets of EDF (Electricité de France [EDF Energy]) in 1950 as a hydropower plant. As the dam was the obstacle closest to the sea and at the confluence of major rivers, it had a substantial impact on numerous species of migratory fish, particularly salmon, which were already suffering from limited access to part of their spawning grounds. The shad populations persisted in remaining spawning sites downstream of the dam (source: www.ern.org).

Figure 22. The location of the Maison-Rouges dam

To restore fish migration, fish passes were constructed and a salmon reintroduction program was undertaken in the Gartempe River (one of the Vienne River’s tributaries), but these initiatives had no significant positive impact. To further improve the Loire river environment as required in the “Loire Grandeur Nature” plan (Natural Loire River Plan, 1994), the national government decided not to renew the hydropower licence when it expired in 1994. The dismantling of the dam was then announced.

The project did not have universal approval, particularly from locally elected representatives and residents who feared that the dismantling would lead to a loss of business tax revenues and jobs, and disappearance of the lake and loss of associated tourism benefits and scenic value. After four years of negotiations and inquiries, the removal of the Maisons-Rouges Dam was scheduled (Figure 13) (source: www.onema.fr).

Figure 13. The Maisons-Rouges dam, before, during, and 10 years after removal (source: Roberto Epple, ERN).

Results

The removal of the Maisons-Rouges Dam was the first major operation of its kind in France. The technical arguments concerning the impact of the structure on large migratory fish and river continuity were the key reasons for proceeding with the project. The results for all of the assessed components were positive and verified the operation’s success (source: www.onema.fr).

Migratory fish

After the removal of the dam, there were spectacular observations of shad and sea lamprey recolonising the Vienne and Creuse rivers. Allis shad began to recolonise the 35 km of watercourses that had been made accessible (11 km along the Creuse and 24 km along the Vienne) and began rediscovering sites that were favoured for spawning. Today, the Vienne basin is home to 80% of the Loire basin’s sea lamprey population (source: www.onema.fr).

Observations for Atlantic salmon are also very positive, with the population increasing from zero to today’s position in which 15 – 20% of the Loire’s Atlantic salmon population is located in these two basins (source: www.ern.org).

The number of fish entering the Vienne River was assessed at an automatic fish counting station 20 km upstream of the Maisons-Rouges location. This gives a partial indication of the numbers of fish present, but the total number of fish benefiting from the removal of the Maisons-Rouges Dam is likely higher than shown in the overview below.

 

Fish species Number of fish monitored in the Vienne river

(fish passage and automatic counting station 20km above the Maisons-Rouges site)

Before 1999 End of 1999 2004 2007
Allis shad very limited 3,500 9,500
Sea lamprey very limited 8,300 41,600
Trout (brown/sea) very limited 2 12
Atlantic salmon 9 57

 

River habitat

River habitats have also been restored to their natural state since the removal of the dam. The impoundment disappeared and riffles, small gravel islands and natural banks have re-emerged and reformed. The natural water and sediment flow conditions have also been restored and are now the basis of a natural river landscape.

Water Framework Directive

The Agence de l’eau Loire-Bretagne (Loire-Brittany Water Agency) is responsible for water management and implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the Vienne river. Each water quality component is evaluated annually and in the period 2009 – 2015, the ecological, biological and physico-chemical status was still improving (figure 14). Removal of the dam took place in 1998 – 1999, before implementation of the WFD. It was carried out to restore river connectivity for the return of large migratory fish. This was monitored in the period 2000 – 2015 in a local WFD programme. It is clear that the removal was crucial in the restoration of the river’s basic conditions, upon which the quality could further improve.

Figure 14. The WFD status of the Vienne river (source: Agence de l’eau Loire-Bretagne (Loire-Brittany Water Agency)).

Read more Case Studies
  • Name: Maisons-Rouges dam
  • Location: Vienne river (Loire basin) – Brittany, northwest France
  • Type of dam: Hydropower station
  • Measurements: 3.8m high; 200m wide
  • Aim: River restoration, improve migratory fish populations and avoid maintenance costs
  • Year of removal: 19981999