Editorial

Lake Paladru has always been private property. It was contributed to the Société du Lac de Paladru when the company was founded in 1874.

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The purpose of the Société is:

• the ownership, operation and enjoyment of the lake,

• the management of the lake and the protection of its plants and wildlife.

 

For a long time, the use of the lake – boating, swimming, fishing and hunting – was reserved for the Société's shareholders, apart from the fishing rights over one third of the lake on the Charavines side, granted to the inhabitants of Colletière by a deed of gift of 1492 that is still in force.

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In the early 20th century, the lake was mainly the domain of professional fishermen. Tourism gradually developed: hotel bathing was allowed in the 1910s, then the municipal beaches of Paladru in 1938, Le Pin in 1945 and Charavines in 1961. Boating followed: first rowing boats, then sailing from around 1930, and finally motorboats.

 

Given the size of the lake, nautical activity became so intense that boating and swimming had to be regulated. The Société's first regulations date from 1970. In 1975, a decree made navigation on inland waters subject to ministerial authorisation. The first prefectural order covering all nautical activities on the lake, adopted in agreement with the Société, dates from 1979. It provides that the use of any boat on the lake requires the prior approval of the Société du Lac de Paladru. A 60-seat excursion boat was authorised in 1985 and 1986; for lack of results, this private venture ended. From 1995, the Société created 100 berths and 200 mooring lines.

The water of Lake Paladru, renowned for its clarity, gradually deteriorated, especially from 1957 onwards. As it could not be held responsible for this pollution, the Société turned to the local authorities, which in 1976 installed a siphon to draw off deep water and built a sewer network around the lake.

 

The lake level is regulated by a system of sluice gates at Charavines, installed in 1868 to supply water to the mills along the Fure river. It is managed by the Syndicat des Usiniers de la Fure. Since 2009, a prefectural order has set the outflow of these gates according to the lake level and the time of year. The Société is not directly responsible for the water level, but it intervenes with the prefectural authorities when the level drops too sharply.

 

The Société has authorised underwater excavation campaigns since 1970. It donated all the objects found to the Isère department, on the sole condition that they be displayed in a museum on the lakeshore.