Codole Reservoir (french: Réservoir de Codole, Lac de Codole) is a reservoir in the Haute-Corse department of France, on the island of

Corsica Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...

. It supplies water for drinking and irrigation. The reservoir and its immediate surroundings are important as a biotope that offers habitat for many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians

Location

The Codole Reservoir is formed by the Barrage de Codole, which dams the

Fiume di Regino The Regino River ( co, Fiume di Regino) is a small coastal river in the department of Haute-Corse, Corsica, France. Course The Regino is long. It crosses the communes of Belgodère, Feliceto, Occhiatana, Speloncato, Santa-Reparata-di-Balagna ...

, a coastal river. The reservoir is to the south of

L'Île-Rousse L'Île-Rousse (; co, Lìsula, , or , ; it, Isola Rossa, ; ) is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It was founded in 1758 by Pasquale Paoli to create a port that would not be in the hands of the Geno ...

on the Mediterranean coast. The dam at the eastern end of the reservoir is in the commune of

Speloncato Speloncato is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. Population See also *Communes of the Haute-Corse department The following is a list of the 236 communes of the Haute-Corse department of France. ...

. The southwest of the reservoir is in the commune of Feliceto, and the northwest of the reservoir is in the commune of

Santa-Reparata-di-Balagna Santa-Reparata-di-Balagna is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. Population See also *Communes of the Haute-Corse department The following is a list of the 236 communes of the Haute-Corse departm ...

. The D113 road runs along the south shore. File:Regino panorama.jpg, Panorama from Regino

Watershed

The reservoir is mainly fed by the Reginu river, which rises at in San Parteo, Feliceto, and has its mouth on the sea in Lozari, Belgodère. There are about of streams in the Reginu watershed, which covers more than . The reservoir is supplied by a watershed of . The Reginu valley has a Mediterranean climate, with little rain in the summer. It regularly has strong west or southwest winds. The landscape includes pastures, cultivated olive, almond and citrus groves, and abandoned scrub and forest. Vegetation includes heather ('' Erica arborea''), '' Arbutus unedo'', oak forests (''

Quercus ilex ''Quercus ilex'', the evergreen oak, holly oak or holm oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the ''Ilex'' section of the genus, with acorns that mature in a single summer. Description An evergreen tr ...

'', '' Quercus suber'' and some '' Quercus pubescens''), lavender ('' Lavandula stoechas''), rosemary (''Rosmarinus officinalis''), ''

Genista corsica ''Genista corsica'' is a plant endemic to Corsica and Sardinia where it is associated with sunny open landscapes and poor stony soil. It is a common constituent of garrigue and maquis communities. Description ''Genista corsica'' is an erect or s ...

'' and many ''

Cistus ''Cistus'' (from the Greek ''kistos'') is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species (Ellul ''et al.'' 2002). They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region ...

'' species.

Dam

The Codole dam (french: Barrage de Codole) was built in the early 1980s by the ''Société de Développement Agricole de la Corse'' (SOMIVAC) to supply water to the eastern part of the Balagne for drinking and irrigation. It was commissioned in 1984. It is a

rockfill dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, ...

with a height of and crest length of . The crest elevation is . It contains of water. In 1992 the ''Office d'Equipement Hydraulique de Corse'' (OEHC) took over management of water resources from SOMIVAC. File:Lac Codole - Speloncato (FR2B) - 2021-09-07 - 3.jpg, Causeway along the dam File:Lac Codole - Speloncato (FR2B) - 2021-09-07 - 6.jpg, View from the dam

Lake

The perimeter of the lake is , with width and length of and an area of . With a capacity of the reservoir is the second largest of ten on the island, apart from the ''

Électricité de France Électricité de France S.A. (literally ''Electricity of France''), commonly known as EDF, is a French multinational electric utility company, largely owned by the French state. Headquartered in Paris, with €71.2 billion in revenues in 2 ...

'' dams. It is the largest body of water on the west coast. The reservoir is full from January to May, gradually empties from June to October and then refills in November and December. Every ten years it is drained completely. When fully filled the average depth is and maximum depth is .

Ecology

The lake is of high biological importance. Its

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

protection status is IV - Habitat or species management area, and V - Protected land or seascape. It is eutrophic or hypertrophic, with a high nutrient content that favors a strong presence of

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blu ...

in the

phytoplankton Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'. Ph ...

population. The biotope offers habitat for many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. European pond turtles (''Emys orbicularis'') have been observed, and in 1999, an invasive turtle, the red-eared slider ''Trachemys scripta elegans'' was also discovered at the site. In 1994 the ''Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels de Corse'' (CEN-Corse) and OEHC agreed to improve conditions for birds using the lake for wintering or as a stopover during migration. Actions included planting vegetation on the banks and placing artificial nests. Flora include: * bullrush ('' Scirpoides holoschoenus'') * common reed ('' Phragmites australis'') * cork oak ('' Quercus suber'') * downy oak ('' Quercus pubescens'') * Genêt de Corse (''

'') * holm oak (''

'') * Montpellier cistus ('' Cistus monspeliensis'') * prickly pear ('' Opuntia ficus-indica'') * rose ('' Rubus'') species * Rosemary (''Rosmarinus officinalis'') * Spanish lavender ('' Lavandula stoechas'') * strawberry tree ('' Arbutus unedo'') * tree heather ('' Erica arborea'') * yellow fleabane ('' Dittrichia viscosa'') Mammals include: *

black rat The black rat (''Rattus rattus''), also known as the roof rat, ship rat, or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus ''Rattus'', in the subfamily Murinae. It likely originated in the Indian subcontinent, but is n ...

(''Rattus rattus'') * Etruscan shrew (''Suncus etruscus'') * European hare (''Lepus europaeus'') * European hedgehog (''Erinaceus europaeus'') * European rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') *

lesser white-toothed shrew The lesser white-toothed shrew (''Crocidura suaveolens'') is a tiny shrew with a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, arachnids, worms, gastropods, newts and sm ...

(''Crocidura suaveolens'') *

house mouse The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus '' Mus''. Althoug ...

(''Mus musculus'') *

least weasel The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus '' Mustela,'' family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has bee ...

(''Mustela nivalis'') *

long-fingered bat The long-fingered bat (''Myotis capaccinii'') is a carnivorous species of vesper bat. It is native to coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as a few patches of land in western Iran. Due to the fact that its population is in decline ...

(''Myotis capaccinii'') *

red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the Order (biology), order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe ...

(''Vulpes vulpes'') * wild boar (''Sus scrofa'') Birds include: * barn swallow (''Hirundo rustica'') *

blue rock thrush The blue rock thrush (''Monticola solitarius'') is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and from Central Asia to northern China and M ...

(''Monticola solitarius'') * carrion crow (''Corvus corone cornix'') * Cetti's warbler (''Cettia cetti'') *

cirl bunting The cirl bunting ( ), (''Emberiza cirlus''), is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae. It breeds across southern Europe, on the Mediterranean islands an ...

(''Emberiza cirlus'') *

common blackbird The common blackbird (''Turdus merula'') is a species of true thrush. It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not ...

(''Turdus merula'') *

common buzzard The common buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. A member of the genus ''Buteo'', it is a member of the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across ...

(''Buteo buteo'') * common chaffinch (''Fringilla coelebs'') *

common chiffchaff The common chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus collybita''), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic. It is a migratory passerine which ...

(''Phylloscopus collybita'') * common cuckoo (''Cuculus canorus'') * common linnet (''Linaria cannabina'') *

common nightingale The common nightingale, rufous nightingale or simply nightingale (''Luscinia megarhynchos''), is a small passerine bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is no ...

(''Luscinia megarhynchos'') * common raven (''Corvus corax'') * common wood pigeon (''Columba palumbus'') * corn bunting (''Emberiza calandra'') *

Corsican finch The Corsican finch (''Carduelis corsicana''), also known as the Corsican citril finch or Mediterranean citril finch, is a bird in the true finch family, Fringillidae. Formerly, both it and the Citril finch were placed in the genus ''Serinus'', b ...

(''Carduelis corsicana'') * Eurasian blackcap (''Sylvia atricapilla'') * Eurasian blue tit (''Cyanistes caeruleus'') *

Eurasian collared dove The Eurasian collared dove (''Streptopelia decaocto'') is a dove species native to Europe and Asia; it was introduced to Japan, North America and islands in the Caribbean. Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it ha ...

(''Streptopelia decaocto'') * Eurasian coot (''Fulica atra'') * Eurasian hoopoe (''Upupa epops'') *

Eurasian jay The Eurasian jay (''Garrulus glandarius'') is a species of passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae. It has pinkish brown plumage with a black stripe on each side of a whitish throat, a bright blue panel on the upper wing and a black tail. The ...

(''Garrulus glandarius'') * Eurasian scops owl (''Otus scops'') * Eurasian wren (''Troglodytes troglodytes'') * European goldfinch (''Carduelis carduelis'') *

European greenfinch The European greenfinch or simply the greenfinch (''Chloris chloris'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. This bird is widespread throughout Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia. It is mainly resident, but some north ...

(''Chloris chloris'') * European nightjar (''Caprimulgus europaeus'') * European robin (''Erithacus rubecula'') * European stonechat (''Saxicola rubicola'') *

European turtle dove The European turtle dove (''Streptopelia turtur'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae, the doves and pigeons. It breeds over a wide area of the south western Palearctic including north Africa but migrates to northern sub-Saharan Africa t ...

(''Streptopelia turtur'') *

great spotted woodpecker The great spotted woodpecker (''Dendrocopos major'') is a medium-sized woodpecker with pied black and white plumage and a red patch on the lower belly. Males and young birds also have red markings on the neck or head. This species is found acros ...

(''Dendrocopos major'') * great tit (''Parus major'') * grey wagtail (''Motacilla cinerea'') *

Italian sparrow The Italian sparrow (''Passer italiae''), also known as the cisalpine sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean region. In appearance, it is intermediate between the house ...

(''Passer italiae'') *

little ringed plover The little ringed plover (''Charadrius dubius'') is a small plover. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek ''kharadrios'' a bird found in river ...

(''Charadrius dubius'') * long-tailed tit (''Aegithalos caudatus'') * Marmora's warbler (''Sylvia sarda'') * meadow pipit (''Anthus pratensis'') * red kite (''Milvus milvus'') * red-backed shrike (''Lanius collurio'') *

red-legged partridge The red-legged partridge (''Alectoris rufa'') is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French partridge, to distinguish it from the English or grey partridge. The ge ...

(''Alectoris rufa'') * Sardinian warbler (''Sylvia melanocephala'') *

spotless starling The spotless starling (''Sturnus unicolor'') is a passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is closely related to the common starling (''S. vulgaris''), but has a much more restricted range, confined to the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest ...

(''Sturnus unicolor'') * white wagtail (''Motacilla alba'') *

willow warbler The willow warbler (''Phylloscopus trochilus'') is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. It is strongly ...

(''Phylloscopus trochilus'') *

woodchat shrike The woodchat shrike (''Lanius senator'') is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It can be identified by its red-brown crown and nape. It is mainly insectivorous and favours open wooded areas with scattered trees such as orchards, particularl ...

(''Lanius senator'') * woodlark (''Lullula arborea'') * yellow-legged gull (''Larus michahellis'') Reptiles include: *

Barred grass snake The barred grass snake (''Natrix helvetica'') is a non-venomous colubrid snake from Western Europe, living in and close to water. It was included within the grass snake species, ''Natrix natrix'', until August 2017, when genetic analysis led to i ...

(''Natrix helvetica corsa'') * European pond turtle (''Emys orbicularis'') *

Green whip snake The green whip snake or western whip snake (''Hierophis viridiflavus'') is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. Geographic range This species is present in Andorra, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, a ...

(''Hierophis viridiflavus'') *

Hermann's tortoise Hermann's tortoise (''Testudo hermanni'') is a species of tortoise. Two subspecies are known: the western Hermann's tortoise (''T. h. hermanni'' ) and the eastern Hermann's tortoise (''T. h. boettgeri'' ). Sometimes mentioned as a subspecies, ...

(''Testudo hermanni'') * Red-eared slider (''Trachemys scripta elegans'') *

Tyrrhenian wall lizard The Tyrrhenian wall lizard (''Podarcis tiliguerta'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to the islands Corsica and Sardinia and their associated islets. There are ten recognized subspecies. Habitat The natur ...

(''Podarcis tiliguerta'') Amphibians include: * European green toad (''Bufotes viridis'') * European tree frog (''Hyla arborea'') *

Pool frog The pool frog (''Pelophylax lessonae'') is a European frog in the family Ranidae. Its specific name was chosen by the Italian herpetologist Lorenzo Camerano in 1882, in order to honour his master Michele Lessona. Description The pool frog is ...

(''Pelophylax lessonae'') bergeri *

Tyrrhenian painted frog The Tyrrhenian painted frog (''Discoglossus sardus'') is a species of frog in the family Alytidae (formerly Discoglossidae). Endemic to the Tyrrhenian Sea basin, it is found in a handful of Western Mediterranean islands, namely Sardinia, Corsic ...

(''Discoglossus sardus'') Fish include: *

Brown trout The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a European species of salmonid fish that has been widely introduced into suitable environments globally. It includes purely freshwater populations, referred to as the riverine ecotype, ''Salmo trutta'' morph ...

(''Salmo trutta'') * Common roach (''Rutilus rutilus'') * Common rudd (''Scardinius erythrophthalmus'') *

European eel The European eel (''Anguilla anguilla'') is a species of eel, a snake-like, catadromous fish. They are normally around and rarely reach more than , but can reach a length of up to in exceptional cases. Eels have been important sources of fo ...

(''Anguilla anguilla'') *

Mosquitofish The western Mosquitofish (''Gambusia affinis'') is a North American freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its generic name, ''Gambusia'', or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the easte ...

(''Gambusia affinis'')

Notes

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cadole, Lac de Reservoirs of Haute-Corse