Sport Fishing magazine for the protection of Barbenan In its issue of 64 September / October 2006, Sport Fishing magazine published an article in favor of protecting the Barbenan.
The article describes:
- The characteristics and charm of this small stream of the first category.
- The dam project that threatens Barbenan.
- The address of our blog where you can gather information and prepare a message of support by email. Thank you to
Sport Fishing for his support and to all the readers that the article raised awareness and who have joined the ranks of the protectors of this small river that is the Barbenan. Be
many still support this action, there is still time and this river is well worth it.
Evolution of the number of emails received petitions 
Since the inception of this blog, many of you (walkers, fishermen, conservationists) to have sent an email petition that will weigh in favor of withdrawing the proposed dam . This article will follow as the days change the number of signatures
You are now: 145 to sign the email petition for Barbenan
This phase of support must continue and you probably know about you, other people (fishermen, hikers, defender of nature) that they too can feel involved in the defense of the river and in turn spend 1 or 2 minutes to write an email to the petition.
We recall here the rules to sign the petition email:
Send an email to the following address: sos.barbenan @ hotmail.fr Include in your email the following information: I am opposed to the creation of the Dam " Moulin du Mas "on the river Barbenan Name: Name: Street: Postal Code: Locality: Country: Important: To avoid it is considered only one signature when accompanying texts in the same public inquiry, "CUSTOMIZE" your words of support changing / adding a few words. . Do not forget to inform the subject of your email. Please participate and engage others in this action to safeguard
How to file a message of support? Several people who signed the email petition for Barbenan we have also sent by email, advice and useful points that should help push for the removal of this dam project. We take this opportunity to thank them for contributing with us to safeguard this action.
If you like them have experience, ideas or sudgestions that may contribute to the withdrawal of this project, your comments are welcome.
For this and so as to benefit the readers of this blog, you can now drop below this article, a comment of support for us to go with your advice (you have to do is click on the "comments" link just below).
Thanks in advance for your participation.
"The Barbenan": Story of a River at Risk 
Located in the southeastern department of Allier between Vichy and Roanne Barbenan the wild river is a small closed in its entire course in the first category fish.
It rises in the bogs at 1000 m altitude, on the town of Saint Nicolas of Biefs then gradually expands across the borough Arfeuilles, and empties after a large number of courses in River Besbre on the town of Breuil.
A few kilometers from the source, the river with a width of about three meters through several tens of hectares of wet grassland area, consisting of rods and small bogs, and instead told Le Moulin du Mas it plunges into a jolt granitic forming potholes, and a famous waterfall in the region: The Pisserotte.
This river basin contains the head of the classical species of a mountain stream, ranging from invertebrate to the brown trout well adapted to this environment.
Association fishing gear and Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (AAPPMA) Arfeuilles "The Trout Barbenan" strives to maintain for many years by a local asset management strain of trout in performing any spill. Indeed
volunteers fishing enthusiasts genuine caring Creek and can provide information on the presence of important spawning grounds upstream Moulin Mas.
one point saw the fish AAPPMA office has taken steps to protect spawning the rise, advancing the closure of fishing last Sunday of August, and by reducing the number of catches four a day instead of six. Each year
nice trout are caught in the Barbenan as in 2005, when catches were spread along the water levels between 25 and 39 centimeters and weighs up to 500 grams, which says a lot about health watercourse.
Fishing pressure is moderate, although the sites are of high attendance, protected by the lack of paved roads, these enchanting places a large number of nature lovers who come every year hiking, trout fishing, horseback riding or hunting ...
Unfortunately since the difficulties encountered in 2003 by some unions to provide drinking water to their members, an old dam project at the Moulin du Mas on Barbenan dating from 1953 was emerged cartons by Joint Association of Water Allier (SMEA). The latter requested a new hydrologic and environmental study by a consulting engineer in Clermont-Ferrand.
In 2006 a steering committee is assembled, representing all stakeholders in drinking water over an area comprising the south-eastern department of Allier and the north-western department of the Loire. Listed Loire several unions claim the water needs, while in the Allier sought the possibility of a new resource and a network security available in cases of pollution of the alluvial river Allier is the most currently used.
Gradually other arguments for the creation of the dam are grafted, as the water needs of cattle breeding farm.
Opponents of the dam are represented at meetings of the Steering Committee in two minorities, association "Combining Nature and fishing by regional and departmental officials of the Higher Council of Fisheries (CSP), the Federation of Fishing and Allier AAPPMA of Arfeuilles. Faced with growing pressure from financial interests of both parties in favor of the dam, the minority opposition will struggle to cope, even by making specific arguments on the damage that could result in the withholding of water at this location. The large size of the structure studied is 35 meters high and 38 hectares of floor would be drowned.
It goes without saying that this is the end of life aquatic meanders in wetland, nursery areas, populations of trout and sculpin, and all species present in the hairy draining into Barbenan, as white-clawed crayfish.
Thus one of the last rivers with great natural wealth, sees its end very close, especially if one imagines the statutory minimum rate reserved for the downstream of a dam on a stream of already low during the summer. The environmental consequences would be irreparable. Regarding the space around the river, pedestrian walks and rides in the sunken roads skirting the grass, thickets and beech forests, the picturesque stone houses of the old mills and their dependencies, the delineation of underscored by the river alder, the general aesthetic places that surprises the visitor would be permanently flooded and replaced by a wall concrete. Other possibilities
resources can be considered, such as drilling, interconnection or mesh networks, and use of existing dams, for now. The fishermen and their representatives have the impression of not being heard and taken into consideration, and the orientation of the study takes the path of the feasibility of the dam Moulin Mas. 
In calling for a mobilization of all associations with activities related to natural sites or anyone who cares, the office of the AAPPMA Arfeuilles "The Trout Barbenan" hopes to collect a maximum of petitions opposing the construction of the dam, to react the water authorities in the right direction.
Given the urgency of the situation is somehow calling the last chance to safeguard the natural heritage, and preserve the unique resource in the headwaters, it is the responsibility of all, thank you .
Remy
Depalle
President AAPPMA "The Trout Barbenan"
You too can support this protective action in favor of this river, by sending an email to the following address: sos.barbenan @ hotmail.fr To do this, please mention in your email the following information: I opposed the creation of the Dam "Moulin du Mas" on the river the Barbenan Name:
Name:
Street:
Postal Code:
Locality:
Country:
Important: "CUSTOMIZE" your words of support in changing / adding a few words .
To prevent it from being considered as a single signature in case of accompanying texts are identical, at the public inquiry. Do not forget to inform the subject of your email. Please participate in this action to safeguard
The article describes: 
