Remise en eau des terrains François et suivis environnementaux du site EN

Brief overview 

Subsequent to the extension of the Ouistreham ferry terminal in 2010, one of the compensatory measures involved rewatering the area known as Terrains François situated in the districts of Sallenelles and Merville-Franceville, in Orne Bay. This rewatering was made possible through various landscaping works and involved an area of 16 ha. The aims were to:   

• Create new intertidal zones (foreshores) through the entry and exit of tidal waters  
•  Satisfy the management plan developed by the French Coastal Protection Agency by restoring the marches and salt meadows, and by adapting coastline management strategies to tackle the effects of climate change.  
• Make the site a maritime wetland once again 

This measure was undertaken in collaboration with the French Coastal Protection Agency 

The works were complete in early 2022 and comprised the construction of a hydraulic structure (scupper) which allows the estuary water to flood the land at high tide and to run-off at low tide. The size of the structure controls the volume of water entering and therefore the depth of the water on the Terrains François.   

Additionally, the site will also be subject to environmental monitoring in order to observe the effects of the rewatering on the ecosystem. At the same time the French Coastal Protection Agency launched the Adapto project for the purpose of exploring solutions to tackle the erosion and flooding of natural coastal lands in the context of worsening climate change. Adapto is testing a flexible approach to managing the coastline on 10 pilot sites belonging to the French Coastal Protection Agency, including the Orne estuary.