The Hydroelectric Powerplants on the Isère - A Habitat for Birds

About the case study

The Isère River, in its downstream sector, has five hydroelectric power plants: Beauvoir, Saint-Hilaire, Pizançon, La Vanelle and Beaumont-Monteux. Built between 1922 and 1963, they produce about 1TWh/year. The presence of the dams has created a succession of five reservoirs, with a total surface area of about 500 ha. These changes have favoured the development of reedbeds that provide numerous ecosystem services and constitute essential habitats for the conservation of numerous species, particularly birds.