The pond of La Capelle-Masmolène a wealth of rare original space...
Why a pond in the middle of the garrigue? Who has surprised on arriving at La Capelle to find, depending on the season, a body of water or reeds 60 hectares? This presence is the result of a combination of circumstances and a chain of events that allowed water it can now be found in abundance on the surface. The main factors are: geological movement allowed the formation of a basin between the hard limestone (Urgonien) and more friable marl (Aptian and Cenomanian) and the filling of this basin waterproofed with clay bowl while anywhere in the scrub disappears in the basement (karst).
How does it work? The falling water in the catchment area of the pond (about 13 km²) is destined to come to power by the main ditches bordering (the Riasse particular). Once arrived in the bowl, the water can not disappear through evaporation or leakage in the basement, clays layers being never completely waterproof. Significant changes in the level of the pond are related to its functioning which causes heavy rainfall can fill in a night and very dry years make it disappear completely. Then only remain as reeds. Under the pond, water tables exist in the famous karst underground network to hundreds of meters deep that it is almost certain now that resurgences exist a few kilometers (Bord-Negro, Valliguières...)
What can we see? Its geographical position and its original character allow vegetations and animals that one sees in Camargue to be observed here. The vegetation is dominated by reeds of three kinds: Phragmites with a characteristic plume, bulrush, with its more discreet and sledgehammers inflorescence that resembles a cigar. The "reeds" are surrounded by belts of trees that can grow waterfront like white willow or poplar. For the curious, you can see in the remaining grasslands around the pond extremely rare plant species such as false Thesion loosestrife (single station in France) or the star of water (one station in the region). Side animals, are first birds that attract the eyes and ears (sound surprising) with 155 species, the pond offers a show throughout the year. Note the presence of most herons (ash, purple, crab, night heron, cattle guards), harriers (ash and reeds), but also waders such as the corncrake, or knights. As for the vegetation, the curious can observe rare dragonflies (Sympetrum), beetles (stag beetle kite) or amphibians (8 species) including the famous crested newt which occupies La Capelle its southern limit of distribution in France. But rest assured, no need to be a specialist to wait until the Cetti's Warbler, watching the graceful flight of Circaète or touch the plume of a reed!
Why is it the object of so many desires? Since forever and as in many ponds in France, many projects have been developed to enhance the space. This is certainly its drying has been more thought in the last century. To retrieve a fertile land (more than scrubland) would have had, due to the site configuration, dig a weir 2.5 km long and an altitude difference of 25 m. This project therefore never happen. But the pond has nevertheless served to agriculture at a time when farming was present in the village, farmers regularly harvesting the reeds to make litter. The hunting is also one of the activities that marked the life of the pond. She obviously rhymes with waterfowl. Many souvenirs in the village found their sources in hunting parties at the time when the reeds had not invaded the pond where ducks could find in this large body of water stop in their migrations. Agricultural practices have disappeared and hunters no longer finding enough interesting site, other actors have taken it up: the bulls, horses for grazing and image searching especially birds hunters. A new era when it comes to reconciling the more activities than opposing them.
And tomorrow? Since the mid-2000s, the value of the pool of La Capelle-Masmolène was recognized at European level by being included in Natura 2000. The purpose of this space is now to preserve species considered rare in Europe. A report (called Goals Document) defines the actions to be implemented to maintain the value of this little gem of kind. This is not to put under glass pond and prohibit all activities, it should instead encourage certain: the maintenance of rare or endangered species will require the resumption of farming practices to limit encroachment by reeds. Previously, the dissections of work will be needed in order to remove plant material accumulation. Particular attention must be paid to the edges of the pond with temporary ponds characteristics, ie spaces where water appears and disappears quickly. Beyond these actions, reclaiming this space by residents and visitors is a major challenge: to describe the operation of the pond, show the species present, explain the action taken must be at the heart of concerns. That is why a discovery trail around the pond project is reflection.
