The two prefectures of Ardèche and Drôme jointly signed a prefectural decree on December 16, governing the practice of motorized leisure navigation from 2025.
The inter-prefectural decree regulating the exercise of pleasure boating and sporting activities on the Rhône between kilometer points 100,000 (Valence) and 169,500 (Viviers) in the departments of Ardèche and Drôme has been in force since on October 10, 2014.
In order to take into account environmental, heritage, landscape and ecological transition issues, an evolution of the current navigation rules and authorizations is necessary and has been the subject of very broad consent from local stakeholders and users.
The decree was thus updated for the area between the Pont de Viviers and the Pont du Robinet (i.e. between the Rhône kilometer points 166.500 and 169.500), in order to enhance the heritage and natural space, while preserving nautical activities, which will gradually become part of a more virtuous approach.
State services, in particular the prefectures of Drôme and Ardèche, as well as Voies navigables de France and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, managed the work of
update.
Extensive consultation with the local authorities and associations concerned has enabled several notable advances: the movement of ships remains a priority; the periods of activity of motorized water vehicles are specified, with shorter sequences (one summer time and another in winter);
the authorized speed is reduced in two stages, with a first stage at 50 km/h from 2025, then a second stage at 40 km/h from 2026 (instead of 60 km/h currently);
special provisions related to nautical activities are taken, in particular the ban on parasailing.
To support these developments, new signage will be installed.
On December 16, John Benmussa, secretary general of the prefecture of Ardèche, sub-prefect of the district of Privas, and Philippe Nucho, sub-prefect of the district of Nyons (Drôme), signed in Viviers this amending order to balance uses between necessary respect for the environment and the pursuit of human activities.
