Resumption of ecological restoration work at the Mazieras mill

After several months of draining* the former body of water, the restoration project for the Malencourie River entered its final phase at the end of July. The work, commissioned by the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park, resumed on July 30th and is expected to continue into September.

A site now ready to be restored

Last autumn, a first phase of work made it possible to drain the body of water, open the mill weir and prepare the site for the restoration of the watercourse.

Since then, several months of drying have allowed the sediments to stabilize naturally. This period was essential to ensure good working conditions and limit the impact of the excavation work.

Reconstructing the natural bed of the Malencourie

The second phase of the project, which has just begun, is the most important step . The work will reshape the former body of water in order to recreate a functional riverbed, close to the natural functioning of the Malencourie.

During the works, materials already present on the site will be reused as much as possible to create a diverse watercourse , alternating between shallow, fast-flowing riffles and deeper, calmer pools, and gently sloping banks. The surrounding wetlands will also be restored to fully regain their ecological functions.

The dike, which now supports a municipal road, will be reinforced to ensure its longevity while allowing the river to regain a natural flow.

A lasting benefit for the river

Once the work is completed, the Malencourie will once again flow freely in this section. Restoring ecological continuity will allow fish and other aquatic species to move freely between the different sections of the river, thus promoting their reproduction, feeding, and the completion of their life cycle.

Removing the dam will also help improve the river's thermal balance . By restoring a continuous flow, the Malencourie will be less susceptible to water warming during the summer months. Conditions will thus become more favorable for sensitive species, such as brown trout, while also strengthening the river's resilience to drought and the effects of climate change.

Finally, the project will restore a more dynamic river, diverse aquatic habitats and functional wetlands, essential for water quality and the proper functioning of aquatic environments.

This work is part of the action program carried out by the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park to restore the aquatic environments of the upper Dronne watershed, reconciling the preservation of biodiversity, the quality of the environments and the adaptation of the territories to climate change.

_{* Drying up is the state of a river or pond which is left without water.}