ABSTRACT
On 1st May 2015, a 300 m stretch of the Arly Canyon Road between Albertville and Megève in the French Alps was destroyed by an Arly River flood triggered by extreme precipitation. In the past, until the annexation of Savoie to France in 1860 the inhabitants of the Arly basin downstream of Flumet avoided the canyon for travelling. Instead they preferred two small mid-slope roads on both valley sides situated well above the risk zone of mass movements interacting with the river. A new road was constructed in 1884 on the flood-prone valley floor in order to reduce travel time and as a demonstration of new political power. However, repeated flood events, rockfalls and landslides have provoked frequent interruption and expensive road maintenance. From 1999 to 2003 alone the road was closed on 84 days per year on average. At present, planning and maintenance of the road infrastructure is primarily related to the demands of the ski industry and focused only on the narrow river bed. Responsible management should go beyond the specific case by case approach at the short term and encompass a more comprehensive, basin-scale, long term approach. Learning from lessons in the past as well as taking into account climate change, river impoundment and diversion is essential. Responsible planning should take into account the needs of local stakeholders, in particular those inhabitants facing a declining ski industry and the emergence of multi-purpose all season tourism.
