Grand Avignon secures the islands of Barthelasse and Piot
The secular apprehension of Avignon vis-a-vis the Rhone opens on a new chapter with the improvement of the setting in safety of the islands Piot and Barthelasse with the reinforcement of the dykes. The file initiated in 2011 and finalized in 2019 is led by Grand Avignon, which has Gemapi expertise (Management of aquatic environments and flood prevention). It is the subject of a public inquiry until February 9. The objective of this project, which cost €17.8 million, is to reduce the frequency of floods by delaying the arrival of overflows, securing homes and developing an evacuation plan for the population.
The works will have to guarantee a level of protection for a twenty-year flood on the 81.7 ha of Piot Island, and more particularly on the urbanized part located between the Europe bridge and the Barthelasse leisure center where 4 600 people, 5,500 in summer. And for a ten-year flood for the island of Barthelasse, less inhabited and more agricultural of 600 ha with 2,200 inhabitants.
Click on the arrow at the top left to scroll down the list of selected works or navigate directly on the map by clicking on the points in blue.
Substantial work for the Barthelasse dike
Drawn up within the framework of the Rhône plan carried out following the floods of 2002, then especially of December 3 and 4, 2003, the study carried out by the Biotop and BGplan a three-year work schedule (see details in our interactive map). The first projects will concern Île Piot, then the next two years will focus on work on the Barthelasse dyke, on the Avignon arm side, which alone will consume €11.8 million of the estimated budget. This site starts north of the dead arm of the Rhône which separates the island of Barthelasse from that of La Motte, and arrives at Chemin de la Traille. It provides for the complete recovery of the banks and the planting of trees. The project will end with all the compensatory measures for the riparian forest, the fauna and their monitoring, sometimes for 30 years, amounting to €720,000 with the creation of 9 ha of alluvial forests. The strips of trees behind the dykes could be up to 20 meters wide.
The declaration of public utility will promote the establishment of easements on private plots to access the protective works. This measure makes it possible to limit expropriations and preserve economic activities, mainly agricultural.