EPAGE of the Bourbre

What EPAGE of the Bourbre does

EPAGE de la Bourbre is a French public water management establishment (\u00e9tablissement public d\u2019am\u00e9nagement et de gestion des eaux) headquartered in Saint-Victor-de-Cessieu, Is\u00e8re, responsible for integrated management of the 850 km\u00b2 Bourbre watershed across 86 communes and approximately 211,000 inhabitants. Originally created in 1968 as SMABB and renamed EPAGE in 2020, the organization holds the exclusive G\u00e9mapi (Gestion des Milieux Aquatiques et Pr\u00e9vention des Inondations) competence delegated by all 9 intercommunalit\u00e9s of the basin and statutorily animates the local Commission Locale de l\u2019Eau (CLE, 51 members) and the SAGE (Sch\u00e9ma d\u2019Am\u00e9nagement et de Gestion des Eaux).

Its core deliverables are services rather than products: flood prevention via the PAPI program, ecological continuity restoration along 150 km of watercourses, ripisylve (riverbank vegetation) management through a dedicated 5-agent field team, water-quality protection across 11 priority drinking water catchments, and the multi-stakeholder \u2018Contrat unique\u2019 environmental program (16 million euros, 59 projects, 24 partners, renewed 2023-2027). Complementary programs include a beaver management plan (2019), a ripisylve plan declared of general interest (DIG 2022-2026), and public engagement activities (school workshops, annual photo contest, podcasts, photo exhibitions).

Revenue mechanics are entirely public-sector: annual contributions from the 9 member intercommunalit\u00e9s, supplemented by co-financing from the European Union (FEDER), Agence de l\u2019eau Rh\u00f4ne M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e Corse, R\u00e9gion Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, D\u00e9partement de l\u2019Is\u00e8re, and the French State\u2019s Fonds Vert. Services are delivered free at point of use to citizens and municipalities. Governance rests on a 30-member Conseil syndical, a 16-member bureau ex\u00e9cutif, and a President (Julien Gaget, elected May 2026); the entity employs specialized technical staff including hydromorphology and captages prioritaires charg\u00e9(e)s de mission, while engaging external engineering and contracting firms (e.g., EGIS Eau, Terry \u00c9lagage, Guintoli) for project delivery.

Name

EPAGE of the Bourbre

Legal name

EPAGE de la Bourbre

Website

https://epagebourbre.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EPAGE de la Bourbre is a French public water management establishment (created 1968, rebranded 2020) that delivers integrated flood prevention, ecological restoration, and water-quality protection across the 850 km\u00b2 Bourbre watershed for its 9 member intercommunalit\u00e9s and roughly 211,000 inhabitants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAE

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIACAG

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAGAGAK

Water Resources & Watershed Protection

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYEUAHAHAC

Wetlands & Waters of the U.S. Delineation / Riparian Assessments

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Ecology, Biodiversity & Natural Resource Assessments

SECONDARYEUANAJAH

Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Water Quality Testing, Compliance & Reporting

SECONDARYEUAHACAC

Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Monitoring & Sampling (Air/Water/Soil/Noise)

Keywords

• Watershed management services
• Flood prevention programs
• Ecological continuity restoration
• Drinking water catchment protection
• Riparian vegetation management

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-victor-de-cessieu

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public funding from intercommunalités: EPAGE de la Bourbre is funded through contributions from the 9 intercommunalités of the watershed that have transferred the Gémapi (Gestion des Milieux Aquatiques et Prévention des Inondations) competence to the organization. As a public establishment, its operating budget is derived from these intercommunal membership contributions.
2. European and government co-financing: Major projects are co-financed by the European Union (FEDER), the Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse, the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Département de l'Isère, and the French State (Fonds Vert). These co-financing arrangements support the environmental contract and ripisylve management programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EPAGE de la Bourbre is a public water management establishment (établissement public) that delivers integrated watershed management services on the 850 km² Bourbre river basin in Isère, France. Its core offerings include flood prevention (via the PAPI program), ecological continuity restoration, drinking water quality protection across 11 priority catchments, riparian vegetation management by a 5-agent field team, beaver population management, and animation of the SAGE regulatory framework and Local Water Commission (CLE). Services are provided directly to the 9 intercommunalités that have delegated the Gémapi competence and are funded by public contributions and co-financing from the EU, water agencies, and regional authorities.

Product overview

EPAGE de la Bourbre is a public water management organization (Établissement public d'aménagement et de gestion des eaux) for the Bourbre river basin in Isère, France. The organization offers a portfolio of environmental management services rather than a traditional tech product. Its core services include flood prevention (PAPI), ecological continuity restoration, water quality management for 11 priority drinking water catchments, river/ripisylve management, and Local Water Commission (CLE) animation. Key programs include the Environmental Contract (16 million euros, 59 projects) and the SAGE regulatory framework. The organization also conducts public engagement through photo competitions, exhibitions, and newsletters. The entity transitioned from SMABB to EPAGE status in 2020, and its activities are funded through intercommunal contributions and co-financing from the European Union, water agencies, and regional authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flood Prevention Services Programs and actions aimed at preventing and managing flood risks on the Bourbre river basin, including dike maintenance, infrastructure works, early warning coordination, and emergency response coordination for the 9 delegating intercommunalités.
• Ecological Continuity Restoration Restoration and preservation of aquatic environments, ecological corridors (green and blue corridors), and ecological continuity along the Bourbre river and its tributaries to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Water Quality Management - Priority Captages Management of 11 priority drinking water catchments through action programs to improve raw water quality, including delineation of catchment areas, agricultural and non-agricultural pressure diagnostics, and stakeholder coordination. Two dedicated chargés de mission are co-financed by the Agence de l'eau.
• River Management - Ripisylve Management In-house team of 5 agents managing riparian vegetation (ripisylve) along watercourses, invasive species control (particularly renouée du Japon/Japanese knotweed), embâcle removal, and general river maintenance to prevent flooding and preserve water quality across 150 km of waterways.
• Local Water Commission (CLE) Animation Animation and coordination of the Commission Locale de l'Eau (Local Water Commission), the 'local water parliament' responsible for overseeing the SAGE (water management scheme) for the Bourbre watershed.
• PAPI - Flood Prevention Action Program Programme d'Actions de Prévention des Inondations (Flood Prevention Action Program) aimed at better protecting populations and installations from flood risks through structural and non-structural measures in coordination with CAPI.
• Environmental Contract Contract for the restoration and preservation of the Bourbre valley's environments, grouping 59 projects carried by 24 local partners for a total of 16 million euros, co-financed by the European Union, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Agence de l'eau, and Département de l'Isère.
• SAGE - Water Management and Planning Scheme Schéma d'Aménagement et de Gestion des Eaux (Water Management and Planning Scheme) for the Bourbre, a prospective planning and consultation tool covering 850 km² and 86 communes.
• Castor (Beaver) Management Plan Beaver (Castor d'Europe) management plan for the Bourbre basin aimed at accompanying the return of the European beaver (which has contributed to re-watering 20 hectares of wetlands) while managing potential conflicts with human activities; includes sensitization and training actions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Avoids €400,000 in annual river-related damage through ripisylve management
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Isère (CEN Isère)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EPAGE collaborates with CEN Isère on wetland protection and biodiversity monitoring. CEN Isère manages 15 wetland sites in Isère covering 453 hectares and runs a crowdfunding campaign 'Veilleurs de zones humides' for wetland maintenance.
• Vals du DauphinécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Vals du Dauphiné intercommunalité is one of the 9 intercommunalités that transferred Gémapi competence to EPAGE. Bureau member Maxime Malossane represents the intercommunalité. Val de Virieu (within Vals du Dauphiné) hosts perchoirs à rapaces installations.
• Balcons du DauphinécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026One of the 9 intercommunalités with Gémapi competence transferred to EPAGE. Bureau member Bertrand Brosse represents the intercommunalité.
• Commune of SermérieuminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commune of Sermérieu is a full partner in the restoration of the Culet and zone humide des Léchères project, providing land and political support. EPAGE is the project owner.
• Terry Élagage, Arbre Haie et Forêt, Guintoli (contractors)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Three specialized companies (Terry Élagage, Arbre Haie et Forêt, and Guintoli) carry out the construction works for the Culet and zone humide des Léchères restoration project.
• Ville de Bourgoin-JallieucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-porteur with EPAGE of the renaturation works between Bourgoin-Jallieu and L'Isle d'Abeau. EPAGE conducted dike maintenance operations on the quais de la Bourbre in Bourgoin-Jallieu (March-April 2024).
• CAPI (Communauté d'Agglomération Porte de l'Isère)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CAPI co-porteur with EPAGE of the renaturation works between Bourgoin-Jallieu and L'Isle d'Abeau. The two organizations collaborate on PAPI (flood prevention) and ecological continuity projects. CAPI also works with EPAGE on embâcle management.
• Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée CorsecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Primary co-financier of EPAGE projects. The Agence de l'eau co-finances the environmental contract (Contrat unique) at 70% for certain projects, the ripisylve management plan (with State via Fonds Vert), and the priority catchment animation program (with 2 co-financed chargé de mission posts).
• APIE (Association Porte de l'Isère Environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019APIE originally developed the beaver management plan for the Bourbre watershed in 2019. The plan was adopted by the steering committee and EPAGE de la Bourbre was designated to pilot its implementation.
• 24 partenaires locaux (local project partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The initial environmental contract (2017-2022) grouped 59 projects carried by 24 local partners including municipalities, associations, and intercommunalités. The contract was renewed for 2023-2027.
• Seven drinking water catchment managerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Seven water managers of the 11 priority catchments on the Bourbre watershed have been jointly animating the captages prioritaires démarche since March 2014. The two charged de mission posts are hosted by EPAGE and co-financed by the Agence de l'eau. The managers include: Colombier Saugnieu, Grenay, SMERB, commune of Vaux, Vals du Dauphiné, CAPI, and others.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EPTB Saône-Doubs: Public establishment managing the Saône-Doubs basin under the same French water management framework, executing SAGE, flood prevention, and ecological restoration programs funded by public agency co-financing.
• EPTB Garonne: Public establishment managing the Garonne basin, executing SAGE-type planning, flood prevention, and ecological continuity programs under the same French public water management framework as EPAGE de la Bourbre.
• EPTB Seine Grands Lacs: Public establishment managing the Seine basin upstream of Paris, including reservoir and flood-prevention infrastructure. Operates the same French public water management framework as EPAGE de la Bourbre, with SAGE animation and intercommunal governance.
• Symadrem (Syndicat Mixte Interrégional d'Aménagement des Digues du Rhône et de la Mer): Public interregional syndicate managing Rhône delta flood protection infrastructure, with a directly comparable mandate for flood risk prevention and levee maintenance funded by intercommunal contributions and Agence de l'eau co-financing.
• EPIDOR (EPAGE Dordogne): EPIDOR is a French public establishment (EPAGE/EPTB) managing the Dordogne river basin, with a comparable mandate for water management, flood prevention, and ecological continuity restoration funded by intercommunal contributions and agency co-financing.
• EPTB Loire: Public territorial basin establishment managing the Loire river, executing river restoration, flood prevention, and water-quality programs at watershed scale under the same French water law framework as EPAGE de la Bourbre.

Regional players

• Syndicat Mixte du Bassin de l'Arc (SMBA): Syndicat mixte managing the Arc river basin in Bouches-du-Rhône and Var under the Gémapi competence, with a smaller territorial scope but directly comparable river-restoration and flood-prevention mandate.
• EPTB Vidourle: Public establishment managing the Vidourle river basin in the Languedoc region, with a comparable Gémapi-style mandate for flood prevention and river restoration, though operating in a different geographic territory.

Broad incumbents

• Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse: The basin water agency that co-finances EPAGE de la Bourbre's projects. It is not a peer operator but a regulatory/financial partner whose programs shape the operating environment for all EPAGE-type establishments in the Rhône-Méditerranée basin.

Emerging players

• Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Isère (CEN Isère): Local partner conservatoire managing 15 wetland sites and 453 hectares in Isère. Comparable because it co-implements biodiversity and wetland restoration projects with EPAGE and operates on the same geographic territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/epagedelabourbre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epage-de-la-bourbre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EPAGE of the Bourbre