France advances coastal erosion barrier and rain garden projects in Grau d'Agde and Grasse

The Agglomeration Hérault Méditerranée is expanding the PEGASE project, a world‑first biomimetic coastal protection system inspired by mangroves. After installing 42 modules in 2022, a second phase added 128 more, bringing the total to 170 modules positioned offshore at the Grau d'Agde beach. The system aims to reduce wave energy, stabilise sediments and restore marine ecosystems. Funding of €2.32 million comes from the European Union (FEDER), the French state, the Occitanie region and the Hérault department, with a five‑year scientific monitoring programme overseeing its impact.

In Grasse, the municipality and the Pays de Grasse agglomeration have begun work on a 3,000 m² rain garden to replace a railway station parking lot. The design includes two storage basins that capture rainwater for irrigation and excess flow to a downstream meadow garden, as well as an open‑air amphitheatre for up to 50 visitors. The €2.5 million project is financed by the local community, the French Green Fund, the Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d'Azur region and the European Union, and is scheduled for completion in 2027. Both initiatives aim to improve water management and enhance public spaces while addressing environmental challenges.