Noue of Hemlot

The Hemlot is an ancient arm of the Meuse located between Liège and Visé, on the left bank of the river, just upstream from the village of Hermalle-sous-Argenteau. Already existing in the 18th century, it currently presents itself as an elongated body of water running in a south-north axis over a length of nearly 700 m with a maximum width of 40 m and a depth of 1 to 2 m. The connection with the Meuse is always ensured both upstream and downstream by sluices. For two decades, the site has been undergoing significant siltation, and its waters have proven to be contaminated by various pollutants, including heavy metals. Frequented by fishermen and walkers, it includes more or less anthropized areas, especially the banks in contact with residences and gardens, and wilder sectors. Despite the widespread impoverishment of its flora and the degradation of habitats with progressive encroachment by exotic species, the Hemlot's marsh retains particularly interesting vegetation. The leaves of the yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea) cover vast portions of the water's surface, while the aquatic beds of coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) are remarkably developed, constituting a Natura 2000 habitat of community interest. As for the banks, they are mostly wooded in the upstream half (south) and elsewhere, primarily occupied by a herbaceous community related to nitrophile megaphorbia, more locally by fringes of sedge or other helophytes such as reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), water couch (Glyceria maxima), or false rice (Leersia oryzoides). The fauna does not appear to contain any exceptional elements but several species of community interest are reported, such as the Eurasian kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and the bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus).

Public access: Managed by DGO1.
Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie