The Catchment Area of Crépieux-Charmy, Lyon - France Conserving Biodiversity

Challenges

The Crépieux-Charmy catchment area, west of the city of Lyon, is the largest catchment area in Europe (375 hectares). In order to preserve and develop the site's exceptional ecological heritage, Veolia Water teamed up with the local Authority(Greater Lyon) and local nature conservation associations to carry out actions aimed at monitoring, restoring and maintaining the ecological heritage including over 500 plant species and a comprehensive range of animals (mammals, birds, fish, insects).

Objectives

As it supplies nearly all the urban area in drinking water, the sustainability of the Crépieux-Charmy catchment area is a major concern for the Lyon population. It is therefore essential to preserve water resources but also to retain biodiversity by improving the management of natural areas as per the local authority's requirements. These two approaches are naturally complementary.

Veolia Water's solution

A response adapted to the preservation of local biodiversity

Veolia Water has operated the Crépieux-Charmy site since 1987 in order to produce drinking water for the Lyon urban area.

The quality of this remarkable site was recognized by its inclusion in several scientific inventories (Natural Area of Particular Ecological Interest in terms of Flora and Fauna, Sensitive Natural Area, Wetlands of Special Interest, Natura 2000).

Veolia Water, in partnership with the Greater Lyon authority and the Regional Conservatory of Natural Areas (CREN) carries out preservation and restoration as part of a five-year site management plan. These actions result in a dialogue with the different partners (local authority, associations, scientists and naturalists) and are supported by awareness raising and communication campaigns among the population and the younger public.

A dynamic policy of inventory and preservation

The site's ecological monitoring is guaranteed by a team of 5 people in charge of surveillance and maintenance, with regular help from experts working for local nature conservation associations (FRAPNA, CORA).

It carries out fauna and flora inventories, thereby contributing to enriching scientific knowledge via field studies.

It maintains and develops various types of habitat for fauna and flora: creation of ponds for amphibians, replanting of bushes for bird nesting, mowing of hayfields in the autumn with limited maintenance around boreholes etc. It also cuts back the vegetation around the edges of basins so that the weight of the trees does not collapse embankments.

Finally, this team restores milieus of special interest (dry lawns and wetlands).