96. Erosion and Fluvial Sediment Supply in Undisturbed and Cultivated Basins: The Case of the Desix and Maury River Basins (Western Mediterranean Area)

Two small neighboring rivers basins (western Mediterranean area) were compared: the Maury and the Desix rivers which belong to the Agly River basin (1045 km2). In this area, the climate is characterized by a marked contrast between dry and humid conditions, with the occurrence of torrential downpour during only a few days of the year. As a result, the bedload and nearly all the suspended sediment load are transported during given events. The main difference between these two catchments is the land-use patterns: viticulture and garrigue (a typical Mediterranean vegetation type) are mainly growing at the Maury basin, while forest occupies the main part of the Desix basin. As a consequence, erosion marks are clearly visible on the bare slopes of the Maury basin. This river provides an important suspended sediment load and a great part of bedload to the Agly River.