The Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Corse (CEN Corse) is an association for the protection of the environment since 1972. It is a member of the federation of the Conservatories of Natural Spaces. Under the Grenelle II law of 2010, a five-year action plan, unanimously approved by the CTC on 28 January 2016, defines the strategic orientations of CEN Corse for 5 years.

The missions of the Corsican CEN are: to know, protect, manage, develop, accompany. The main activities are the protection and management of sites, scientific and technical expertise, territorial animation, as well as environmental awareness and education.

The Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Corse has been managing the sites of the Valinco gulf (south-western Corsica) since 1992. In 2007, the CEN Corse initiated an ecological diagnosis of the whole Tavaria plain (mouth of the Rizzanese), the aim of which is to characterize the wetland and better understand its functioning, with the support of local stakeholders and partners (AERMC, DREAL, CdL, EDF, OEC).

Thanks to a scientific collaboration between CEN Corsica and M. Esteves : a CRUZOE radar measuring water heights (range 30 m, RS485 signal) controlled by a solar LNS acquisition unit 3 channels(LNS GPRSSOL-3) from the company PARATRONIC and a radar for measuring the speed of the water surface, type Sommer RG-30, acquired from the company AnHydre, were installed on the road bridge.

The functioning of the Tavaria plain seems to be fairly representative of the functioning of the wetlands in the mouth sectors of the Corsican rivers. Also, with the support of the AERMC, the Corsican ENC has started the study of the functioning of the Liamone river mouth plain, an area which has not seen any construction or development that could cause major disturbance (neither dam nor aerodrome).

The CEN Corsica also equipped the Liamone bridge witha CRUZOE radar measuring the water level (range 30 m, RS485 signal) controlled by a solar LNS acquisition unit 3 channels(LNS GPRSSOL-3) from the company PARATRONIC. The boxes are protected by surge protectors (ex : PRO TAS30…)

The objectives of the package of measures are to :

• To monitor the limnimetric variations of the Rizzanese upstream of the plain, throughout the year and during flood periods as well as at low water levels;
• Capturing data to better understand hydrological functioning. The complete set of data allows, indeed, to better appreciate the relations between the surface and underground water levels of the Tavaria plain ;
• Use this new knowledge for better management of water and aquatic environments in Corsica.