Abstract
Floodplain restoration projects are part of sustainable flood management model. However, in practice, they are rarely implemented. We analyze the failure of a floodplain restoration project that was supposed to be implemented on the River Rhône (France). Based on the analysis of floodplain restoration projects implementation literature, we identified several constraints on the implementation of the project. In accordance with the literature, institutional factors were found to have played a critical role in the failure of the project. Other factors such as opposing representations between inhabitants and river managers were also important. Moreover, the strong involvement of the State alongside river managers proved to be a major constraint on implementation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams WM, Perrow M (1999) Scientific and institutional constraints on the restoration of European floodplains. In: Marriott SB, Alexander J (eds) Floodplains: interdisciplinary approaches, vol 163. Geological Society, London, pp 89–97
Adams WM, Perrow MR, Carpenter A (2005) Perceptions of river managers of institutional constraints on floodplain restoration in the UK. Environ Plan Manag 48(6):877–889
Bethemont J (1997) Le Rhône entre nation et région. Revue de géographie de Lyon:67–75
BRL Ingénierie (2008) Etude approfondie des conditions d’inondation de la plaine Mornas-Piolenc-Orange et notamment des conditions de remise en eau de cette plaine par le Rhône
Brouwer R, van Ek R (2004) Integrated ecological, economic and social impact assessment of alternative flood control policies in the Netherlands. Ecol Econ 50(1–2):1–21
Creuchet B, Gérard F, Quévremont P (2009) Maîtrise d’ouvrage du projet d’optimisation des zones d’expansion des crues du Rhône entre Viviers et Beaucaire. Impacts techniques et juridiques. Conseil Général de l’environnement et du développement durable
DREAL Rhône Alpes (2009) Schéma de gestion des inondations du Rhône Aval. Pour une stratégie de gestion des crues du Rhône à l’aval de Viviers. DREAL
DREAL Rhône Alpes et CNR (2010) Stratégie de prévention des inondations sur le Rhône et ses affluents. Simulations de scénarios d’aménagement sur le Rhône entre Viviers et Beaucaire pour l’optimisation de la gestion des Zones d’Expansion des Crues. Scénarios 3 et 4
Egeo Solutions, Ledoux B (2011) Analyse Coût/Bénéfice Schéma d’optimisation des zones d’expansion des crues du Rhône, en aval de Viviers DREAL Rhône Alpes
Eden S, Tunstall S (2006) Ecological versus social restoration? How urban river restoration challenges but also fails to challenge the science-policy nexus in the United Kingdom. Environ Plan C Gov Policy 24(5):661–680
Erdlenbruch K, Thoyer S, Grelot F, Kast R, Enjolras G (2009) Risk-sharing policies in the context of the French flood prevention action programmes. J Environ Manag 91(2009):363–369
Gardiner JL (1992) The River Thames strategic flood defence initiative. A new approach to flood control measures. Paper presented at the defence from floods and floodplain management
Giandou A (1999) La compagnie nationale du Rhône (1933–1988). Histoire d’un partenaire Régional de l’Etat
Guerrin J (2012) Le développement durable comme légitimation de l’action publique. Le cas des inondations du Rhône. Cahiers du centre de recherche sur la gouvernance des ressources naturelles et du territoire (CRGRNT), Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada
Guerrin J, Bouleau G (2014) Remparts ou menaces? Trajectoires politiques de l’endiguement en France, aux Pays-Bas et aux Etats-Unis. Revue internationale de politique comparée 21(1)
Hodge I, McNally S (2000) Wetland restoration, collective action and the role of water management institutions. Ecol Econ 35(1):107–118
Maltby E (1991) Wetland management goals: wise use and conservation. Landsc Urban Plan 20:9–18
Maltby E, Blackwell MSA (2005) Managing riverine environments in the context of new water policy in Europe. Int J River Basin Manag 3(2):1–9
Morris JHTM (2005) A framework for integrating flood defence and biodiversity in Washland in England. Int J River Basin Manag 3(2):105–115
Moss T, Monstadt J (eds) (2008) Restoring floodplains in Europe. Policy Contexts and Project Experiences, IWA
Nedelcu M, Hainard F, Guex D, Gobat JM (2007) Fonctions multiples, contraintes multiples: les défis du nouveau paradigme de gestion des zones alluviales suisses. Natures Sciences Sociétés 15(1):3–12
OCDE (2010) Etude de l’OCDE sur la gestion des risques d’inondation: Bassin de la Loire, France
Pedroli B, de Blust G, van Looy K, van Rooij S (2002) Setting targets in strategies for river restoration. Landsc Ecol 17:5–18
Picon B, Allard P, Claeys-Mekdade C, Killian S (2006) Gestion du risque inondation et changement social dans le delta du Rhône. Les catastrophes de 1856 et 1993–1994. Cemagref
Pigeon P (2012) Flood-risk and watershed management conflicts in France: Upper catchment management of the river Rhône. In: Making space for the River. IWA, pp 149–160
Pritchard SB (2004) Reconstructing the Rhône: the cultural politics of nature and nation in contemporary France, 1945-1997. French Hist Stud 27(4):765–799
Pritchard SB (2011) Confluence. The nature of technology and the remaking of the Rhône. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Roth D, Warner J (2007) Flood risk, uncertainty and changing river protection policy in the Netherlands: the case of ‘Calamity Polders’. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 98(4):519–525
Roth D, Warner J (2008) Dealing with flood risk in an urban setting: calamity polders and the politics of knowledge. Working paper
Roth D, Warner J (2009) Rural solutions for threats to urban areas: the contest over calamity polders. Built environment 35(4)
Roth D, Winnubst M (2009) Reconstructing the polder: negotiating property rights and blue functions for land. Int J Agric Resour Gov Ecol 8(1):37–56
Territoire Rhône (2003) Etude globale pour une stratégie de réduction des risques dus aux crues du Rhône
Turner RK, van den Bergh JCM, Söderqvist T, Barendregt A, van der Straaten J, Maltby E, van Ierland EC (2000) Ecologica-leconomic analysis of wetlands: scientific integration for management and policy. Ecol Econ 35(1):7–23
van der Werff PE (2004) Stakeholder responses to future flood management ideas in the Rhine River Basin: nature or neighbour in Hell’s Angle. Reg Environ Chang 4:154–158
Varone F, Nahrath S, Aubin D, Gerber J-D (2013) Functional regulatory spaces. Policy Sciences March 2013
Ververk J, van Buuren A (2013) Space for the river: a condensed state of the art. In: Warner J, Van Buuren A, Edelenbos J (eds) Making Space for the River. IWA London, New-York, pp 15–32
Warner J (2010) Space for the river, space for diversity? Contest over multifunctional flood planning. In: BHS 3rd international symposium, managing consequences of a changing global environment. British Hydrological Society, Newcastle, UK
Warner J, van Buuren A (2011) La mise en oeuvre de “plus d’espace pour le fleuve”: les discours positifs et négatifs à Kampen, aux Pays-Bas. Revue Internationale des Sciences Administratives 4(77)
Warner J, Van Buuren A, Edelenbos J (eds) (2013) Making space for the river. IWA London, New-York
Werritty A (2006) Sustainable flood management: oxymoron or new paradigm? Area 38(1):16–23
Wiering M, Immink I (2006) When water management meets spatial planning: a policy-arrangements perspective. Environ Plan C 24:423–438
WWF (2004) Living with floods: achieving ecologically sustainable flood management in Europe. Policy briefing
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guerrin, J. A floodplain restoration project on the River Rhône (France): analyzing challenges to its implementation. Reg Environ Change 15, 559–568 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0650-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0650-8