Ecosystem studies in unconsolidated alluvial sediments in and along running waters were
developed especially along the Rhône River by the “Lyon group” (cf. MARMONIER et al.,
2000). The innovation of their approach was that the shallow alluvial aquifer was studied in
close connection with the dynamics of the surface terrestrial and aquatic systems, at the level
of a wetland landscape. This expanded our vision on the way we can monitor and/or protect
not only the aquatic systems but also the groundwater dependent ecosystems