It is a device that has existed for more than a century. Upstream of Lyon, the plain of Bouchage, near Morestel in Isère, will be voluntarily flooded to protect the Lyon area from a flood of the Rhône, announced this Thursday our colleagues from the Dauphiné Liberated.
The precipitation which fell on the region for several days raised the level of the river, placed in vigilance “yellow” flood by Vigicrues.
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Four towns (Brangues, Le Bouchage, Les Avenières-Veyrins-Thuellin and Groslée-Saint-Benoit) could be gradually flooded in the coming hours. These villages constitute an area of expansion of the waters of the Rhône.
A voluntary flooding system put in place to protect Lyon and its agglomeration in 1858.
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In addition to opening the valve to prevent flooding in Lyon, the pumps operate above all, outside the flood period, to evacuate runoff from rivers in the plain towards the Rhône. The mission of this work is to protect the four threatened towns.
But if a critical level for the Rhône is reached, the pumping of the rivers is stopped and the valve is opened manually.
A climb of 206 this Thursday for the Rhône
Each time the river which crosses the capital of Gaul reaches the level of 205.7 meters above sea level, the pumps of the Brangues station are stopped. If the rating exceeds 205.95 the floodgates are open, leaving the surplus of the Rhône to spread out over the plain.
This Thursday morning the Rhône coast had climbed to 206 and several roads were already blocked.
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