Ecological continuity at the Bedous dam (64)

The ASASP scheme, commissioned in 1962, is located in the Gave d’Aspe valley, upstream of the municipality of Asasp. The ASASP power plant intake is located in the municipality of Bedous (64) and turbines the waters of the Gave d’Aspe. The dam diverts part of the Gave’s flow into a headrace canal located on the left bank, which then continues through an underground gallery to supply the ASASP power plant.

Main technical features

From upstream to downstream, the scheme comprises: a movable dam equipped with 2 14 m-wide spillways and a 4 m-wide segment-type sluice gate, topped by a flap gate; a lateral intake weir on the left bank, topped by a coarse screening panel; a fish pass with plane baffle-type slots (4 flights) at the dam; a 225 m-long headrace canal; a fine screening panel at its end, with a downstream migration facility on the right bank leading to the Gave.

Specific constraints

The need to limit the scheme’s unavailability and associated losses, while the scope of works covered multiple areas; flood-risk management.