Development of a secondary dune system
Le Grau-Du-Roi – France
Dates : 2014-2017
Project leader: City of Le Grau-Du-Roi
Classification
Risks
Solutions
Actors
Costs
Summary
The project led by the city of Le Grau-du-Roi consisted in creating a dune ridge while implementing a strategic retreat. The development of a secondary dune system aimed at letting the marine erosion progress in a buffer zone where the biodiversity is preserved and where the economic stakes are low. In the long term, this project is part of the efforts to resist marine submersions by accepting the free evolution of the shoreline according to climate hazards.
Actions
The project carried out by the town of Grau-du-Roi entails the creation of a second-rank dune system leaving marine erosion to evolve in a buffer zone where biodiversity is preserved and economic stakes are low.
The creation of a dune was decided at the same time as the implementation of a managed retreat.
In parallel, coastal monitoring activities and compensatory measures (ecological monitoring, reclamation, invasive species mitigation) are being carried out. A five-yearly assessment is submitted to the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL).
Outcomes
The landscape is well integrated while the structure is stable and effective against erosion and marine submersion. Moreover, the protection infrastructure is not overly expensive. The project has been described as innovative and has received significant media coverage. It has raised awareness on the possibility of protecting property and people through a different approach.
The project builds on:
- project management with multiple complementary and collaborative stakeholders (BRL, ONF, EID);
- Specialised and competent partners in this type of intervention;
- Ownership of 80% of the land by public stakeholders (communal, conservatory, DPM)
Despite public enquiry, the project encountered some difficulties when it came to intervention on private property.
Partners
Technical partners: State services, Regional and local authorities, Universities and scientific institutions, Economic actors
Financial partners: European Union, State, City, Region, General Committee