Historical and current uses of the Morvan's Rivers (central France): Impacts on bedload transport and fluvial morphology

摘要

This study focuses on the hydromorphological functioning and the bedload transport characteristics of the Yonne and Cure rivers (Morvan Massif, Central France). These small gravel-bed rivers have undergone two major anthropogenic modifications, one between the mid-16th to the early 20th century for the timber floating industry (Poux et al., 2011), and the second one from the 1920's for hydro-electrical production. For almost four centuries, small dams, artificial cut-offs, straightening and water releases have deeply affected the fluvial dynamics and morphology of the rivers. During the 20th century, the establishment of a small dam (Pierre-Glissotte complex) has locally impacted the upper course of the Yonne River. Almost at the same time, a complex of three large dams has been built on the Cure river (Crescent complex), impacting the sediment flux on several tens of kilometers in the upper part of the catchment.