Work on the revitalization of the Petite Glâne River (FR-VD
A section of the 6.8 km Petite Glâne will be revitalized by 2026. The first stage of the work began on the territory of the communes of Saint-Aubin and Vully-les-Lacs. The project will provide the watercourse with sufficient space to guarantee its natural functions, promote biodiversity and protect against floods.
The Petite Glâne revitalization project covers 6.8 km in the communes of Vallon (FR), Missy (VD), Saint-Aubin (FR) and Vully-les-Lacs (VD). Its objectives are to restore the small, highly channeled Glâne, as close as possible to the natural state, to promote the development of a diverse fauna and flora and to improve the landscape quality. Following the construction of forest felling and river widening, about 30,000 shrubs and 100 major trees of 37 native species will be planted. 200 microstructures for wildlife will also be created along the shores. The work will also ensure the sustainable protection of infrastructure and goods by preventing flooding on cultivated areas. They will offer relaxation spaces to the population, who will be able to benefit from nature observation points..
Start of work for the first stage
The first stage of the work started on 12 September 2022. A section of some 2.9 km will be revitalized and built in the communes of Saint-Aubin and Vully-les-Lacs. The work will last one year. The whole project is subsidised by the Confederation (80%), the State of Fribourg (5% for the measures on the communes of Saint-Aubin and Vallon) and the canton of Vaud (15% for the communes of Vully-les-Lacs and Missy). The Association Intercommunale pour la revitalisation de la Petite Glâne (AIRPG), owner, will bear the remaining cost. Through the successful search for funds from the “Broye Source de Vie” association, the AIRPG will be supported by financial contributions, in particular from associations and foundations for the protection of the environment and nature, including the MAVA – Foundation for Nature, the main sponsor.
Planning includes a second phase of revitalization in 2023 downstream of Vully-les-Lacs (1.7 km) and a third at 2024 upstream of Missy and Vallon (2.2 km). The total cost of the project is estimated at 21.5 million francs.
A priority sector
As part of their planning for the revitalization of rivers, the Environment Service of the canton of Fribourg (SEn) and the Directorate-General for the Environment of the canton of Vaud (DGE) have defined this sector of the Petite Glâne as a priority. They warmly thank the AIRPG for the management of this project as well as the Federal Office for the Environment and the association “Broye Source of Life” for their decisive commitment to the realization of the project.
A response to climate change
Watercours and wetlands are particularly sensitive and climate-affected environments. Measures to develop and revitalise rivers help to strengthen the adaptive capacities and resilience of these ecosystems. They help not only to restore the watercourse close to the natural state, to better absorb the floods, to make up the increase in water temperature, to strengthen the ecological infrastructure but also to diversify the landscape, to create islets of freshness and places of relaxation for the population.
