Saint Etienne, France
City population: 373538
Duration: 2016 – 2016
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Previous derelict area
Last updated: October 2021

This intervention is about the restoration of the riverbanks of the Janon River along a street in the Terrenoire District of Saint Etienne. This area was abandoned for more than 10 years, without maintenance and cleaning. Therefore, this intervention was mandatory for clean up to avoid flood as well as bringing back vegetation and offering some quality walking areas for citizens (Ref. 1).

A path alongside a riverbank undergoing restoration work
https://www.leprogres.fr/loire/2016/11/18/travaux-le-janon-retrouve-enfin-son-lit-naturel-et-ses-berges

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Environmental quality
  • Waste management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

"Reinforcement of the banks which will be vegetated by a lawn and shrubs" (Ref. 1) "The bed of the stream, clogged with a lot of waste, prevented the Janon from flowing normally. The work carried out today will revive it and also aim at the recovery of the banks." (Ref. 1) "Its restored functioning will make it a place of relaxation and of walk and offer a framework in safety to the residents who remain on the adjacent bank side west." (Ref. 1)

Implementation activities

"Complete cleaning of the area, and a reinforcement of the banks which will be vegetated by a lawn and shrubs and equipped with furniture of relaxation." (Ref. 1). "The banks collapsed, especially those bordering the dwellings, which presented serious major risks for the latter, with the appearance of very significant deterioration. The bed of the stream had become an open dump, filled with earthworks and all kinds of waste presenting the risk of flooding or accidents of all kinds. It was also invaded by a particularly polluting Japanese reed hedge vegetation" (Ref. 1). -"Its restored operation will make it a place to relax and walk and provide a safe environment for residents who live on the adjacent shore on the west side" (Ref. 1). -"The bank, on the rue du Carcaret side, was occupied in an unauthorized manner by “worker” -type gardens whose occupants were relocated, after consultation with the Volpette-La Châtaigneraie gardens for the most part (less than ten)" (Ref. 1).

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Clear and control invasive alien species
  • Restore ecological connectivity

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • National government
  • Regional government
  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

"This operation, which is part of the program "Contracts of rivers", was defined by the National Water Agency, with the participation of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, and the Departmental Council. The conurbation of Saint-Étienne Métropole is responsible for the project management." (Ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes ("The Law for the Recovery of Biodiversity, Nature and Landscapes was passed on July 20, 2016." (Ref. 3) "These important works were made mandatory, following the abandonment of maintenance, for more than ten years"(Ref. 1).)
... a local policy or strategy? Yes ("Contrats Rivières"(Rivers Contracts) under the "Project of agglomeration 2014 - 2020" (Ref. 3). "This operation, which is part of the "River Contracts" program" (Ref. 1).)

Financing

Total cost

€50,000 - €100,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public regional budget
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

No

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved waste management
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
  • Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
  • Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Anon. (2016). "Travaux : le Janon retrouve enfin son lit naturel et ses berges". LeProgrès.fr. Available at: Source link (Accessed: September 1, 2020).
2. Les Agences de l'Eau. (n.d). "LES AGENCES DE L’EAU, ACTEURS DE LA BIODIVERSITÉ" Available at: Source link (Accessed: September 1, 2020).
3. Saint Etienne Métropole (n.d). "Une agglomération résolument durable". Available at: Source link (Accessed: September 1, 2020).
4. Les Agences de l'Eau. (n.d). "Quelles actions pour l’eau, les risques d’inondation et le milieu marin ?". Available at:
Source link (Website not available in 2020).
5. Sauvons l'Eau (n.d). Région Auvergne, Rhône Alpes. Available at: Source link (Accessed: September 1, 2020).
6. Saint Etienne (n.d) "Nature en ville". Brochure: Available at: Source link (Accessed: September 1, 2020).