France's waterways dry up amid record drought, heat waves

Record drought grips waterways

The French Office for Biodiversity said on Saturday that 16 percent of rivers nationwide were dry by the end of June, with another 10 percent registering "invisible" flows as prolonged drought and successive heat waves rapidly transform aquatic ecosystems. Rivers and streams throughout the Languedoc and Roussillon regions have experienced sharply reduced flows and rising temperatures over the past two months, according to Franceinfo.

The proportion of dried-up waterways reached a record 22 percent in the southern Aude department, the agency noted, while Mediterranean departments have suffered between 10 and 20 percent losses compared with a nationwide average of 5 to 10 percent. Critical conditions have been recorded in the Montagne Noire and Corbieres areas, particularly in the upper Aude Valley, despite heavy winter rainfall that gave way to an unusually dry and hot spring.

Aquatic ecosystems under threat

Adrien Arazo, director of the Aude Fishing Federation, told Franceinfo that the timing of the drought presents particular concerns for aquatic life. "What is worrying today is the drying up of certain waterways at this time of year, when there are still two months of summer left," Arazo said, warning that rivers already suffering from low flows and reduced oxygen levels faced an increasing risk of complete desiccation.

Cold-water species including brown trout and common bullhead are expected to decline as water temperatures rise, according to the report. Meanwhile, chub, barbel, gudgeon and invasive American crayfish could benefit from the changing conditions because they thrive in slow-moving rivers where algae and plankton proliferate, the French Office for Biodiversity noted.

Nationwide restrictions imposed

Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut said on Wednesday that water restrictions were in effect across all 99 departments of metropolitan France as an "exceptional" and "very worrying" drought gripped the country. Naturally occurring low water levels are often worsened by human activities including irrigation and drinking water withdrawals, the French Office for Biodiversity stated.

Authorities have imposed varying water-use restrictions based on watershed conditions, groundwater levels and weather forecasts. A total of 206 prefectural orders restricting water use have been issued, the highest number recorded since at least 2013, according to official data.