On leaving Montélimar, and after passing under the Rhône canal, the Roubion returns to its former winding bed, surrounded by a continuous riparian forest, before flowing into the Rhône opposite Le Teil.
Description
The delimited area follows the course of the Roubion, and includes bed and wooded banks. It also includes the Roubion at Montélimar, a stretch that is particularly interesting for certain species adapted to reedbeds, such as Reed Warblers and Little Bitterns. The forests on the banks of the Roubion and Rhône rivers are home to a whole range of birds, including the Hobby Falcon and the Spotted Woodpecker. From the confluence of the Roubion, the area climbs northwards along the bed of the ancient Rhône to the Rochemaure dam. This includes part of the Meyrol, a small stream originating in Ancône, which crosses the Rhône canal via a siphon. Close to the Rhône, the Meyrol flows through former gravel pits located between Le Teil and Montélimar. The Red-crested Pochard nests here, as it does on a number of other bodies of water along the Rhône. These bodies of water are in continuity with the population on the Rhône islands opposite Cruas. The stony bed of the old Rhône is ideal for the Petit Gravelot. The Pierregarin Tern has also been observed here. A pair of this rare bird in the Rhône-Alpes region is thought to have nested here in 1997, a possible indication of its future expansion on the Rhône. The European Beaver frequents the whole area. The surrounding woods provide shelter and food. A pike spawning ground remains: the female lays her eggs in aquatic vegetation, but also in flooded meadows. This carnivorous fish is mainly found in the river's oxbows. Here, the water is calm and flows over a gravel bottom. The banks are rich in grass beds. The species is locally threatened by the destruction of its breeding grounds.
Spoken languages
- French
Labels and ranking
- Natural inventory