The pond at the Pascal Garrido landscape space will be drained from Monday, October 19th to Thursday, October 22nd. Following a fish rescue operation, the bottom will remain dry throughout the winter, before dredging in early spring. The park will be partially closed to the public starting Saturday, October 24th.
This draining is necessary because a pond naturally silts up over the years with accumulated sediment. This silt reduces water volume, degrades water quality, and alters aquatic habitats. Autumn is the ideal period for this operation, as the water is cooler, fish are less fragile, and not in their breeding season.
The draining, from Monday, October 19th to Thursday, October 22nd, will be done slowly to allow fish to gather towards the fishing area and prevent pollution of the Onzon river. The fish rescue, on Friday, October 23rd, will be carried out by the Loire Fishing Federation and La Carpe Stéphanoise. The fish will then be reintroduced into the Janon basin in Terrenoire.
During winter, the drying period (assec) will sanitize the bottom and destroy certain parasites through frost. Dried sludge will be easier to handle and remove, preserving the natural substrate layer and the clay that ensures the pond's watertightness.
In early spring, Saint-Étienne Métropole will mechanically dredge the accumulated silt. The pond will thus regain its original depth and its capacity for natural self-purification. The sludge will be analyzed for its destination. The municipality will also use this time to repair banks if necessary, reinforce damaged areas, and check the outlet and the sluice gate.
From Saturday, October 24th, the Pascal Garrido landscape space will be partially closed to the public for an undetermined duration. The Maison de la Nature will remain open during its usual hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 3 PM to 7 PM (May to October) and from 2 PM to 6 PM (November to April), with closure on the first weekend of each month.
These works have been authorized by the Departmental Directorate of Territories of the Loire (DDT), under an authorization regime, reference 26-324, linked to Cascade numbers 42-2026-00256 and 42-2000-90024.
