The site of the Vieux Salins was purchased by the Conservatoire du Littoral in 2001. The protected area covers 365 hectares (900 acres), which makes it a major protected natural area in the Bay of Hyères. With the Salin des Pesquiers, it is a testimony to the ancient salt farming activity which represented a pillar of the development of the harbour of Hyères. The governance of the site is animated by the Conservatoire and its partners (the Urban Community Toulon-Provence-Mediterranean (TPM), the municipality of Hyères and the National Park of Port-Cros.
The current management plan organizes a hydraulic management of the site similar to the functioning of the old salt works, in order to preserve the ecological and ornithological qualities of the site. However, this configuration is challenged by several phenomena including the erosion of the dune bar in the south: coastline retreat, disappearance of the Aleppo pines and shaded areas, erosion of the beach, threats on the hydraulic structures of the site.
The rip-rap revetment on a part of the site limit erosion locally but it disturbs the hydro-sedimentary process in the bay.
Studies conducted by BRGM and the University of Aix-Marseille have shown that this coastal wetland is a favourable place for the implementation of adaptive management actions of the coastline and natural areas such as the demolition on the rip-rap in a perspective of regeneration.
In 2017, following a first phase of demolition on a stretch of 100 meters at the western end of the structure, the site manager TPM launched a study for the definition of a coastline management strategy (Artelia). This study analyses the following solutions:
- a protection scenario (hard engineering management with dykes…),
- a scenario to accompany the evolution of the site according to the risks,
- a coastline regeneration scenario with a natural readjustment,
- a non-intervention scenario.
The works and the project for this site are part of two projects with financial support by the European Union: Marittimo (Franco-Italian Interreg 2017-2019) and adapto (2017-2021).
Project for the site
The overall project is to restore a natural dynamic to the dune-beach system that connects the sea and the wetland. The plan is to demolish the rip-rap structure and readjust the hydraulic structure and the access according to the evolutions of the environment.
The adapto project will focus on organizing the actions following the structuring works carried out within the framework of Marittimo (demolition of the rip-rap). It will consist in restoring the continuity of the coastal path and following the evolution of the lagoon ecosystem, including the posidonia meadow that fringes the beach.
More generally, the project will develop actions towards users, inhabitants and elected officials in order to clarify the misunderstandings entailed by the unstable situation, and to plan with them the future evolutions.
Site chronicle
February 2019: Choice of a contractor for the footpath construction and for the rehabilitation of the dune bar and the demolition of the rip-rap revetment.
April 2019: Exhibition on the project carried out as part of the pedagogical action of the CPIE Côte Provençale.
