The objective of this work was to restore the river's natural functioning, improve aquatic habitats, and reduce the site's vulnerability to floods, while reconciling environmental concerns and tourism activities. The inauguration took place on Saint-Hilarin beach in the presence of elected officials, technicians from the mixed syndicate, the Com'com, the Adour Garonne water agency, the biodiversity office, participating companies, and local residents.
Thierry Solier, president of the mixed syndicate, emphasized that "This project illustrates the importance of collective, long-term action to adapt our territories to climate change while preserving biodiversity."
The site showed traces of gravel extraction carried out between the 1950s and 1990s, which had altered the Tarn's functioning. The deepening of the riverbed, artificialization of the banks, and the presence of embankments had limited the river's natural mobility, weakened ecological balances, and increased flood risk for the adjacent campsite.
The work included the restoration of 550 meters of riverbanks, removal of inappropriate structures and materials, riverbed restoration with gravel replenishment, site renaturation through plantings, and flood vulnerability reduction. In total, 1.3 kilometers of the river were involved, with the movement of approximately 20,500 m³ of materials.
To reconcile ecological restoration and tourism, about ten camping pitches located immediately along the Tarn were removed and relocated. Parcels were also acquired to create over 8,000 m² of public spaces along the river, including swimming and relaxation areas. The mayor of Rivière-sur-Tarn, Christophe Carrat, indicated that activities are being set up nearby.
The project, initiated by the Millau Grands Causses Community of Communes and taken over by the Syndicat Tarn-amont in 2018, required several years of studies, land acquisitions, and consultation. The total cost amounts to nearly €1.4 million excluding VAT, financed by the Adour-Garonne Water Agency (€876,800), the Occitanie Region (€385,910), and the Department of Aveyron (€18,018). The Syndicat Tarn-amont contributed €300,000 through the GEMAPI tax.
