It took ten months of construction for the Nizon, this tributary of the Rhône which has its source in Lirac in the Gard, to find its natural bed. The end of the work was inaugurated on October 10, giving hope for countless environmental benefits for residents.
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At first glance, it is difficult to imagine that more than 850,000 euros of work was carried out here, in Lirac, a small town of around 1000 inhabitants, in the Gard. Which is a rather good sign, because the objective was to restore the Nizon to its natural state.
For years, this watercourse has undergone multiple developments, to the point that its bed had even been artificialized. Felling of all the trees, recalibration with a mechanical shovel, creation of dikes and merlons… So many developments all along the watercourse, from the source to the Rhône over 1.5 km, which aimed to facilitate the work of the brushcutters at the beginning of summer, before a decision is made to renaturalize it.
“The idea emerged in 2009, so it took 15 years, numerous studies, but also structural changes,” relates Cédric Clémente, mayor of Lirac. We have somehow made up for the mistakes of the past. At the time, state services encouraged unions to have management that was not appropriate. But today, we finally got there! The project has been finalized and the future is passed on to future generations.”
It is a heritage, economic and environmental objective that has been perfectly achieved.
Cédric Clemente, Mayor of Lirac
For a total cost of 800,000 euros, this tributary of the Rhône is functioning properly again. That is to say that biodiversity is favored, water of better quality and better stored thanks to a wetland. Above all, the risk of flooding is reduced.
“A meandering watercourse makes it possible to stop the speed of the water and therefore avoid excessive damage from flooding, explains Karine Bonacina, the director of the Montpellier (Hérault) delegation of the Rhône Méditerranée Corse water agency. This also allows spaces for proper functioning where water can overflow into areas where there is no human or economic risk.”
Revegetation, replenishment of groundwater, increase in water quality, reappearance of biodiversity, carbon capture… the interest is therefore obviously not only aesthetic for the municipality.
It’s a small river but a big project!
Karine Bonacina, from the Rhône Méditerranée Corse water agency
Lirac was heavily affected in 2002 by floods. For this inauguration day, students from the local school were able to be the first to benefit from the new green space, and although they are too young to have experienced the floods, they are aware of the importance of this renaturation . Planting a tree on the outskirts of Nizon is also a way of making this new space your own.
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