Restoration of the Broye delta into the Lake of Morat (Salavaux, Switzerland)

ABSTRACT: The Broye River is one of the primary rivers of the Canton de Vaud district. It has been canalized in the 20th century to cultivate the lowlands and to cope with the huge risk of severe inundations of these lowlands. Within this framework, the delta of the Broye River into the Lake of Morat has been canalized and displaced to the north. Since then, several major problems arised. Suspended sediments transported by the Broye River are deposited in a flow recirculation area, resulting in the formation of a sandbank and continuous increase of vegetated surfaces. This resulted in a progressive decrease of the dynamics of the area between the river side and the delta and, finally, also of the delta itself.