Facilitate lake delta renaturation projects

Alexandre Fourrier and Giovanni De Cesare are taking measurements in the Chamberonne delta on the shores of Lake Geneva © 2024 EPFL/Alain Herzog - Engineers from EPFL and partner organizations have developed a method for classifying lacustrine deltas based on morphological parameters, in order to determine which of the deltas severely altered by human activity are best suited for restoration to their natural state. The Reuss delta on the edge of Lake Lucerne is once again a nature-lover's paradise, complete with gravel islands and stretches of shallow water where plants, animals and bathers coexist in harmony. Thanks to a series of restoration projects, engineers have been able to recreate the delta's natural ecosystem, fostering biodiversity and helping to protect the shoreline. It's a far cry from the riprap that had previously dominated the landscape. The Reuss delta is one example of the lacustrine delta restauration work that Alexandre Fourrier studied as an environmental engineering student at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). For his in-company Master's project, he investigated morphological processes in lacustrine deltas. His research was supervised by Giovanni De Cesare, the operational director of EPFL's Hydraulic Constructions Platform, Marina Launay from the Gruner engineering firm, and Stéphanie André from Vaud Canton's department of the environment.