General National Id France_13 Summary The Chaux forest is a silvicultural production area and is covered by a large number of small streams, originally winding and of small size. In 2008, the LIFE program "Ruisseaux de têtes de bassins et faune patrimoniale associée" ([Pond head creeks and associated heritage fauna]) carried out restoration work at the head of the catchment area on part of the small ditches of the Chaux national forest. Based on the experience and results obtained, the National forest office (ONF) proposed a new project to restore 45 km of watercourses in three 15-km sections (2015, 2017 and 2018) with the objective of significantly restoring the hydraulic functioning of the Clauge and improving the conservation status of the species covered by the Habitats Directive. Indeed, all the temporary tributaries of the Clauge were transformed in the 1960s into deep straight ditches via canalization works. Light or indepth? In-depth The in-depth description of the case study mnre_rex08_foret_de_chaux.pdf Location description The Chaux forest is covered by a large number of small streams, originally winding and of small size (more than 400 km). They are located at the head of the catchment area and are tributaries of the Clauge. The lime forest is a silvicultural production area (mainly oak), the environment is described as quite common. NUTS Code Franche-Comté RBD code FR43-Franche-Comté Transboundary 0 Source(s) Reconstitution des écoulements de surface de deux affluents temporaires de la Clauge amont Dossier de demande d’autorisation au titre de la Loi sur l’Eau et les Milieux Aquatique et de Natura 2000 NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Coarse woody debris Wetland restoration and management Re-meandering Longitude 5.6601 Latitude 47.0813 Monitoring maintenance Monitoring parameters A monitoring protocol was set up in 2017 with the University of Franche-Comté (technical assistant) and the ONF (National Office of Forest), with the help of 2 master trainees. Entomological monitoring Monitoring is carried out in the spring, at the net and in the watercourses and is led by the University. Entomological monitoring is carried out before and after, at a control site, and at restored sites, with a time grid every two and three years. The control shows that the observed changes are not due to climatic variations. Piezometric monitoring (individual or online). About twenty piezometers have been installed with weekly automatic readings. Dendrometric monitoring At the level of the piezometers, vegetation monitoring plots are placed by the ONF (height, diameter, health status, dominance) on control plots of 1000m². The population evolution will be monitored over the long term. Performance Biophysical impact assessement method Comparison with a control site. Design & implementations Project scale Large Application scale River Basin Installation date 2015 Area (ha) 2 700 ha Area specifications Restored watercourse represents 45 km Favourable preconditions Almost all the temporary tributaries of the Clauge being originally meandriformes, a remeandering operation is justified following their transformation in the 1960s into deep rectilinear ditches, so that they can regain a hydrological functioning that allows them to support an associated biodiversity. Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments Design land use change Land use change type Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments Other Initiation of the measure Responsible National office of forest (ONF) Research institute / University Monitoring Supporting Franche Comté science university Lessons, risks, implications... Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments Financing Financing type Comments Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Legal obligations / restrictions main barrier The main constraint was the completion of the public inquiry, since it represents a significant cost, and also a duration of 6 to 8 months. Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Other main driver The fact the habitat was seriously degraded and other experience of successful restoration of habitat on a similar area was a key driver, as positive results were already forecasted from the beginning. Financing share Financing share type Share Comments Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description The naturally straight portions were either overburied, widened or both; the downstream flow velocity of the floods was accelerated accordingly. This channelization resulted in a lowering of the altitude of the associated surface water tables, but also in a spreading of the flow water slide in the stream, excluding flood peaks, as well as an increase in energy in the minor beds during high water periods. The expected results were: Restoration of water flows and Overall habitat improvement Policy target Target purpose Policy pressure Pressure directive Relevant pressure Policy area Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments Policy impact Impact directive Relevant impact Policy wider plan Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity Biodiversity monitoring reveals a better attractiveness of the spawning sites for amphibians (frogs, salamander, newt, reproduction multiplied by 10) and amphibians because the river was not initially biogenic; It also reveals an improvement in habitat for entomofauna, with the number of taxa multiplied by 2, a recovery by ephemeropterans, perlids and trichopterans protected at the European level (e. g. Hagenella clathrata classified as endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List). There is also an improvement in quality (i.e. more demanding species that are dependent on wetlands). Biophysical impacts Information on Increased groundwater level Piezometric monitoring shows an increase in the hydroperiod (+15 days) because the time of presence of water in the watercourse is longer, as these are surface aquifers that are in silts and dry in summer, water is more available for trees in spring. When the time of presence of water in the stream is extended, it is also extended in the groundwater table. Photo gallery Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL