![]() ![]() ![]() Hikers in the mountains near streams and torrents often notice dams filled with gravel and cobbles, especially in state-owned forests. An old need for protection against floods and erosion We shall see that a structure as simple as a check dam filled by pebbles can be built for very different purposes and have very specific effects and functions depending on its location and characteristics. This article recalls, through references to pioneer publications, how the current vision of the role played by check dams in torrents has emerged and changed through time. Their design requires an understanding of their effects on torrent activity and in particular on floods. They also have an impact on the environment through the stabilization of erosive processes. These structures have an important role in protecting mountain societies. What are they used for? They limit erosion and some of the risks associated with the torrential nature of these rivers. In the headwaters of the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Massif Central, mountain torrents are equipped with thousands of torrential check dams. ![]()
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