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The Pays de Savoie-Mont Blanc-Lac Leman basin has been classified as an Operational HELP basin. Collaboration between the Rhône and Pays de Savoie-Mont Blanc-Lac Léman basins is being developed. Detailled information on this cooperation (in French) is available as a Pdf. file under "Publications".  Basin Properties The pilot site « Pays de Savoie Mont Blanc Léman » comprises 5 action zones:
The properties (Geographic properties, Demographic properties, Land uses, Water resources and uses in the watershed) are summarised below. Principal characteristics of the site “Pays de Savoie-Mont Blanc-Lac Léman”: Haute Vallée de l’Arly Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
Haute Vallée de l’Arve Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
Le Giffre Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
Léman / Voiron Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
Lac d’Annecy Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
TOTAL Geographic properties
Demographic properties
Water resources
Policy and legislation issues (for the entire « Pays de Savoie Mont-Blanc Léman » Watershed): At present, no political or legal structure offers a specific response to Integrated Water Resources Management although several are helping to bring it about: - on the one hand, institutional bodies:
- on the other hand, intercommunal structures have initiated « river contract » proceedings:
All these operations have a remedial purpose and comprise three strands:
The earliest contracts are due to expire soon. Operations which have been undertaken have initiated the environmental recovery for hydraulics, water quality and the conservation of surrounding areas. Nevertheless, all these institutional and local structures are well aware that Integrated Water Resources Management is a prerequisite for sustainable actions. The new challenge is to reconcile uses and participate in a network to draw up regulations for integrated and sustainable water resource management. Baseline information availability: Existing data: 100 years of meteorological data, 30 years of data on underground resources, 30 years of hydrographic monitoring (Mougin data), multiple bibliographical references (Universities of Savoie, Institut de Glaciologie de Grenoble (Institute of Glaciology), Institut de Géographie Alpine (Institute of Alpine Geography), multiple cross-referenced data bases:
The site now benefits from a Geographic Information System and digital field model, superimposing the following : land structure, real nature of terrain, orthophotoplan, water databases, hydrography, forests, alpage (mountain pasture) as well as risks. All these actions can be visualised at different scales. Some of these data will be directly accessible via the Internet site which is planned by the programme. Organisations and institutions responsible for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the watershed: Commune de Megève, Mairie, 1 pl Eglise 74120 Megève, http://www.megeve.fr Syndicat à Vocation Multiple du Val d’Arly, Rue Mont Blanc 73590 FLUMET Syndicat Intercommunal du Lac d’Annecy (SILA), 7 rue des terrasses, BP 3974962 Cran Gevrier Cedex , http://www.sila.fr Syndicat Intercommunal des Eaux des Moises, BP 16 - Zone Industrielle 74550 Perrignier, http://www.eaux-moises.com Syndicat Intercommunal du Foron du Chablais Genevois (SIFOR), Mairie de Gaillard, 74240 GAILLARD Syndicat Mixte Aménagement Arve et Abord (SM3A), 56 place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 74130 BONNEVILLE SIVOM du Haut-Giffre, Avenue de Phézières, 74440 TANINGES
Statement of Issues, Purposes and Outputs Hydrological and Water Management Issues: This site, which is a veritable water tower, has undergone a radical socio-economic transformation over the last fifty years. The shift from an agro-silvo-pastoral society towards one which is predominantly based on tourism and industry is reflected in the significant evolution in area management and water use management. Thus, during the peak tourist season, the population of the proposed basin increases tenfold which leads to user conflicts and heavy demands on the environment:
Research has been carried out on pastoral activity on the proposed site to know the extent of agricultural and water contamination. This research is carried out jointly with agronomists, biologists and pedologists. They fit into a concerted approach involving scientists, professional bodies and farming techniques, water and health managers and farmers. The important role played by forests in the conservation of water resources. and good hydraulic governance is no longer in doubt. Nearly half the forest area is very closely linked with water. Forests must contribute fully in preventing and fighting against natural risks and water runoff and in preserving healthy water. Concerning erosion, the forest is ideal ecologically-friendly solution. The vegetation not only prevents the erosion from developing in the first place but plant barriers also trap the eroded sediments. Concerning water runoff, land which is no longer maintained in the sector has been disappropriated. Certain sectors have seen a public reappropriation of watercourse banks allowing consistent management plans to be set up to promote good water flow and environmental biodiversity. Within the framework of the LIFE programme, a research programme has started setting up appropriate river bank vegetation management. Concerning water conservation, over half the water catchment installations for potable water supplies are situated in the forest sectors. There is a current reflection with the hydrodynamic centre of THONON on how best to reconcile forest management with forest health conservation. Environmental issues: On the proposed site, changing practices and uses as well as the heavy demand placed on resources have led to aquatic degradation through a speeding up of the erosive process. The real challenge for this sector of great common heritage is to preserve the quality of the landscape through good area management (pastoral and forest) and reconcile uses with environmental conservation. Livelihoods issues: It is important to consider the role played by human factors when analysing situations in mountain zones and when seeking solutions to the problems encountered. The recent history of rural interventions not only shows that a holistic approach to the problems of local populations is a more effective response to their needs but also that a participatory approach allows them to be involved in seeking and implementing appropriate and sustainable solutions. This mindset is often difficult to develop both among actors and local populations but solutions do exist which allow these approaches to be fostered and which allow development support to be decentralised in order to meet local demands whilst diversifying the potential solutions. Policy and legislation issues: Political and regulatory procedures have until now been sectoral but an approach using cross-cutting themes is now recognised as being more appropriate for aquatic conservation. The international colloquium of Megève, which focused on the integrated management of “high watersheds”, helped promote this holistic approach. In addition, the Senate report published in 2002 on the adaptation and evolution of the Loi montagne (Mountain Law), took account this new dimension of integrated basin management to work towards optimising qualitative and quantitative management of the resource. The new European framework directive incorporated this concept of integrated management at a basin level. The site proposed within the scope of the HELP programme will be one of the showcases of this integrated management. How do the issues fit with the Five HELP Policy Issues? The problems of Integrated Water Resources Managment in the high watershed « Pays de Savoie - Mt Blanc - Léman » fit with the following policy issues: Water and food: In this environment, which is subjected to severe climatic constraints, great demands are placed on the resource at the lowest water period. This makes it difficult to match needs with resources and the water supplies are not always guaranteed. Optimising management of this resource is one of the prerequisites of the approach. Water quality and human health: The high watershed « Pays de Savoie – Mt Blanc – Léman », which is a coveted area with multiple uses, needs to set up management plans which balance uses and water protection. Pastoral, forest, urban and industrial areas all need to implement good conduct charters which respect and protect the resource. A great many programmes are working towards this goal. Water and environment: Excessive demands are made on the aquatic environment in the most critical period on the proposed site. One of the goals of integrated management is to be able to anticipate increased consumption, to restrict effluents in the catchment area and protect the environment. Good governance of pastoral and forest areas which is consistent with good water governance will enhance water-environment compatibility. Water and climate: The mountain specificity of the « Pays de Savoie – Mt Blanc – Léman » high watershed has significant climatic constraints so the water climate interface is an overrididng element in good water management. Studies conducted by Météo France and the Centre d’Etude de la Neige (Centre for Snow Studies) on climate changes and snow precipitation deficits form one of the elements of this reflection. Water and user conflict: The escalating water uses in this high watershed in recent years has led to major user conflicts. Reconciling uses and determining priorities to balance meeting needs with aquatic conservation is one issue which will find solutions through using a participatory approach involving all the actors in the watershed. Institutional change and capacity building issues: In the « Pays de Savoie - Mt Blanc - Léman » high watershed, expectations are high among elected representatives, socio-economic actors, administrations and scientists to work on cross-cutting themes in a unifying experimental project focusing on optimising water management. This participatory approach requires capacity building for a series of activities:
Principal Purposes: The « Pays de Savoie Mont Blanc Léman » high watershed proposal has two objectives:
More importantly, the watershed aims to be a pilot site to identify structural and functional elements of integrated management, based on decisions taken during the First International Congress which was held in this watershed, in Megève, in 2002. The Congress, which gathered 450 researchers and experts from all over the world, led to the creation of a pluriannual programme based on communication and debate within a permanent forum in the proposed site. In conclusion, this basin proposal has all the necessary elements to become a permanent interdisciplinary meeting place for scientists, practitioners, training officers, decision-makers and the local community. Principal outputs:
Statement of Proposed Activities Outline of the HELP programme design and plan: The pilot study of the pilot site comprises several stages: Inventory This is organised around three themes:
Inventory of the aquatic environment and water: This survey will allow the constitution of:
Inventory of actors, projects and ongoing procedures: This survey will enable:
Inventory of issues and uses This survey will allow an assessment of the level of satisfaction of different water-related uses and user conflicts. This stage is organised around institutional partners and local actors in the area of water and water use to allow a comprehensive identification and ranking of all the issues based on the main area units. Their analysis will help draw up guidelines for integrated and consistent management of the hydrosystem and/or conservation actions for water quality, water courses and their environment. Setting up action plans The action plans aim to achieve integrated management through a participatory approach, organised around:
All the programme, along with its actions, will be approved by an extended programme committee, concerning not only intercommunal water resource management structures but also all the socio-economic and environmental components of the watershed, notably the Société d'Economie Alpestre, SED Haute-Savoie, OEFM, Conseil Général des départements des Savoie, MISE, OIEAU, EDF, Association Nationale des Elus de la Montagne, Agence de l'eau, Office National des Forêts, Service Restauration des Terrains en Montagne, Université de Savoie, Institut de la Montagne, GRAIE, ZABR, Météo France, Région Rhône-Alpes, DATAR… The method will be based on a cross-sectional approach to the different themes aiming at integrated resource management. Measurement and reporting of baseline conditions in the basin: Numerous scientific studies have been conducted on the proposed site. In the initial « Inventory » phase, a summary will be drawn up to allow a good comprehension of the initial conditions of the « high watershed ». These findings will be available for the HELP programme and presented during the stages provided for by the programme. Stakeholder analysis, participation and consultation: The extended committee will allow the involvement of all the stakeholders. Seminars and workshops will allow large-scale mobilisation of partners during the different stages of the programme. Capacity building, training and eductation: Training programmes for the personnel of management structures will be able to be set up by the Université de Savoie, l’Institut européen d’ingénierie de l’espace rural and l’Office International de l’Eau. Educational action programmes for school children can also be organised to raise awareness among as wide a section of the population as possible. Under the aegis of the University of Savoie, doctoral researchers will be able to take part in this programme and possibly create a chair in mountain water issues. Schedule of proposed activities 2004 - 2010: The proposed activities are part of the framework of the following pluriannual programme: 1) Dissemination and evaluation of the findings of the 1st Congress of Megève in 2002 by CD-ROM available (first quarter of 2004). 2) Creation of an « Eau en Montagne » ( Water in the Mountain) Internet site (September – October 2004). 3) Extended programme committee meeting and setting up of a permanent forum around the pilot site « Pays de Savoie – Mont Blanc – Léman » and high watershed themes with a permanent secretary (2004 to 2006). 4) Structuring the pilot site « Pays de Savoie – Mt Blanc – Léman » with a hydrological charter linking the partners and local authorities and implementing the plan set below (2005 – 2006). 5) Organisation of a « Megève 2 » Colloquium in September 2006, to disseminate the acquired knowledge and information acquired by the pilot site and to organise an international meeting with other HELP programme sites. 6) Continuation of the project which may need to be refocused depending on the conclusions of the September 2006 conference. (2007 to 2010). Monitoring and evaluation: The projects of the programme will be monitored and evaluated by means of intermediate reports which will be transmitted to the partner organisations and financial backers. Each intermediate report will give rise to a meeting of the extended programme committee in Megève. The reports will be communicated to the HELP programme leaders who will be systematically invited to attend extended programme committee meetings. The state of progress of the studies and procedure will be communicated to other watersheds via the Internet site after being approved by the HELP programme leaders. A HELP conference within the framework of the Megève Colloquium of September 2006 will allow evaluation and exchanges on ongoing programmes and results obtained and to refocus the work on the pilot site if necessary.
State of Commitment Steering Committee Select Committee:
Extended Committee:
Extended Programme Committee:
N.B. The project is part of a series of international partnership and cooperation activities which involve, among other things, the monitoring of different chapters of the Agenda 21 Rio Declaration and research and development programmes. Fund reserve (financial partners):
The members of the project team, partners and financial partners mentioned above have expressed their wish to collaborate on such a project following the International Conference of Megève in September 2002 where they were either present or represented.
Contribution to Promoting HELP Values The proposed basin is taking part in a programme to promote integrated management in basins worldwide, focusing on 6 points:
Most of these six points are aimed at communication and technical and scientific dissemination focused on high watershed issues. Particular communication tools (Internet site, …) will be specially created for the programme. A range of seminars and the large international event in September 2006 will allow wide-ranging exchanges and dissemination of the findings. Associating the outlined programme with the HELP programme will constantly strengthen comparative knowledge on hydrology (and information) in relation to social and economic changes in society. UNESCO’s support would be necessary to organise technology transfer and training among other HELP basins (technical and financial help for travel, interpreters, …).
Key contacts for this project:
Pierre LACHENAL, Directeur Jean-Paul AMOUDRY, Sénateur Président Société d’Economie Alpestre B 625 DDAF Cité Administrative Rue Dupanloup 74040 Annecy Cedex France E-mail: sea74@echoalp.com
Louis AMAT, Directeur Pierre FRANCILLARD, Responsable Service Environnement Société d’Equipement du Département de la Haute-Savoie 105 Avenue de Genève 74014 ANNECY CEDEX France E-mail: env@sedhs.com
Jean-Claude MONIN, Président Pier-Carlo ZINGARI, Directeur Observatoire Européen des Forêts de Montagne 350, Quai Charles Ravet 73000 Chambéry France E-mail: oefm@wanadoo.fr
Jean-François DONZIER, Directeur Général Office International de l’Eau 21 rue de Madrid 75008 PARIS France E-mail: dg@oieau.fr
Albert-Louis ROUX Professeur Emérite Université Lyon 1 14 av Jean-Marie Charvieux 69270 Fontaines sur Saône France E-mail: rouxalbertlouis@aol.com
Walter MAZZITTI Chef de la Task-Force sur l’Eau de l’Union Européenne Rue de la Loi 175 – 1048 BRUXELLES Belgium E-mail: walter.mazzitti@consilium.eu.int
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