Another hydroelectric power station authorized on an ecologically sensitive river

On May 14, 2025, the Lyon administrative court of appeal validated the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Sallanche river, a tributary of the Arve (in Haute Savoie). FNE had challenged the prefectoral environmental authorization order in 2019, as the project threatened this river, classified as a biological reservoir, and diverted more than half the water flowing into the Sallanche. This ruling follows an initial decision by the Grenoble Administrative Court on December 6, 2022, which had initially annulled the project’s authorization precisely because of the risks it posed to the ecosystem.

FNE AURA (France Nature Environnement AUvergne-Rhône-Alpes), notes that this decision leads to a further artificialization of waterways, a phenomenon that is at the root of the difficulties in achieving good ecological status for rivers. Indeed, more than half the rivers in the Rhône-Méditerranée basin are in unsatisfactory condition, and many rivers already modified by artificial developments are struggling to maintain balanced biodiversity.

In legal terms, the administrative court of appeal adopted a different interpretation of current legislation, in particular article R214-109 of the French Environment Code. Unlike the Grenoble administrative court, it did not consider that the planned diversion would significantly affect the hydrology of the river, even though the latter is classified as a biological reservoir.

The court therefore overturned the Grenoble administrative court’s ruling and validated the prefectoral decree of December 26, 2019 authorizing the project.

This ruling reflects continuing legal uncertainty, particularly after a legislative attempt in 2019 to simplify the interpretation of rules on the protection of biological reservoirs. However, the Conseil d’État overturned this amendment and favors a case-by-case approach, leading to the risk of contradictory decisions and increasing legal uncertainty for the protection of biodiversity.Yet another hydroelectric plant authorized on a River with high ecological stakes.

More info :

Cour administrative d’appel de Lyon :
https://www.actu-environnement.com/media/pdf/jurisprudence/57.pdf

FNE :
https://www.fne-aura.org/communiques/region/centrale-hydroelectrique-de-sallanches-un-pas-de-plus-vers-la-degradation-de-nos-cours-deau/

logo Living Rivers Europe

Living Rivers Europe recommendations to strengthen the EU Water Resilience Strategy

The European water resilience strategy will be voted on at the beginning of June.

But following the recent report voted by the European Parliament on 7 May, and media reports on the Commission’s draft, the NGO coalition Living Rivers Europe fears that the forthcoming strategy lacks the tools needed to make Europe truly water resilient. The strategy is intended to respond to the growing urgency of water scarcity, floods, pollution, and ecosystem degradation across the continent.

Based on recent media reports, the draft text lacks the binding commitments, dedicated funding, and governance tools needed to ensure meaningful implementation and systemic change. Without those, ambition will remain on paper and will not be able to tackle growing pressures on Europe’s rivers and wetlands. On 20 May, the NGO coalition Living Rivers Europe sent a letter to the European Commission outlining their recommendations to ensure that the strategy can help Europe and citizens thrive.

At the beginning of May, the Living Rivers Europe coalition had already indicated that the European Parliament’s recommendations were a step in the right direction, but lacked ambition, with the text focusing on ‘grey infrastructures’ – i.e. systems and structures created by man – to the detriment of nature-based solutions.

In their report, adopted on 7 May by 470 votes to 81 with 92 abstentions, MEPs called for an ambitious strategy to enable the EU to better manage its water resources and respond more effectively to current challenges in this area. The text stresses that water is not only essential for health and life, but is also central to the European economy, its competitiveness and its efforts to adapt to climate change. The recommendations are aimed at water efficiency targets, pollution reduction and better disaster preparedness, but without any real tools. More info

Dam removal report 2024 is available

A a glance :

542 obstacles removed in 2024 in 23 countries – an increase of 11% on last year.
2900 km of rivers reconnected across the continent
4 countries have removed their first barriers

Those highlight the growing support for barrier removals across Europe as well as increasing understanding among communities and governments of the benefits of reconnecting and restoring our rivers for people and nature. These actions are helping to strengthen climate resilience, enhance water and food security, and reverse nature loss.

 

read the report

read press release

 

Figure 1. Number of removed barriers per country in 2024. Notes: the inset shows the removals per country in the UK. The countries that officially removed their first barriers in 2024 are marked with an asterisk (*)

 

Loire/Ardèche : Montpezat – Quo Vadis !

For several years now, SOS Loire Vivante-ERN has been successfully campaigning on the subject of the Montpezat hydroelectric complex and the potential renewal of the concession at the end of 2028.

This is a thorny issue, because behind the question of energy production (135 MW), we are actually talking about one of the largest transfers of water in Europe between the Loire and Ardèche basins, amounting to 80 – 300 Mio M3 /year.

In order to lay the foundations for the future concession and to share the various issues surrounding the management of the structure, a restricted inter-sage Loire amont / Ardèche working group, led by the Prefect of the Haute Loire, has been set up. The WG, in which SOS Loire Vivante -ERN is represented, will deliver its recommendations to the InterSAGE by the end of 2025.

In order to bring everyone up to the same level of knowledge, the first two meetings were devoted to hydroelectricity and the natural environment, and at the end of May the focus will be on uses. A mediator has been appointed for the following meetings. That is wise…

In the summer, SOS Loire Vivante – ERN will be inviting interested NGOs from the Loire and Ardèche basins to a visual seminar in order to take stock of the situation and crystallise the initial positions.

> more information about the Montpezat hydroelectric complex

Rhinau fish pass: work completed on schedule

The impressive Rhinau fish pass on the Rhine will be put in the water next week for testing.
The deadline for completion of the work has been met.

A large-scale monitoring system will keep track of how the fish pass is used.

©Daniel Reininger – Alsace Nature

More info

 

Gregor Subic

Goldman Prize 2025 : Eco Albania rewarded for his work for the Vjosa

Since 1989, the Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to environmental “heroes” around the world. In Europe, and in the “fresh water” category, two Albanian activists from Eco Albania were rewarded for their defense of the Vjosa, one of the continent’s last wild rivers. Through their campaign, they succeeded in preventing the construction of multiple dams and in designating the Vjosa and several of its tributaries a national park.

In 1992, France and Loire Vivante also won an award for Christine Jean, who coordinated the national campaign to prevent the construction of dams on the Loire at Serre de la Fare, Le Veurdre and Chambonchard.

Plus d’infos

Tuesday, May 20 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.: ERN webinar “Learn more about the Open Rivers Programme” (in French).

The Open Rivers Programme continues to found barriers removal projects, preparatory studies and works. ERN – SOS Loire Vivante, can help and advise you if you wish to apply. To prepare the next call for projects, a webinar to present the program, eligibility criteria and ask your questions is organized on May 20 from 4 to 5:30 pm (in french). registration required.

 

Open Rivers Programme : Open Rivers Programme: Two new projects selected in partnership with ERN and SMDMCA

The Open Rivers Programme continues to support the restoration of river continuity in Europe.

Two new projects, supported by ERN in partnership with SMDMCA, have just been selected in the Cantal region of France: the Batitan and Moulin Bas weirs.

This brings to 13 the number of projects (studies or works) in partnership with ERN and the Open Rivers Programme in France.

 

Seuil de Moulin Bas ©SMDMCA

The Moulin Bas project

The Moulin Bas weir is located on the Souvigne stream, a tributary of the Dordogne. This watercourse, classified in lists 1 and 2 (L.214-17 du CE) is of great ecological importance. In 2018, the Souvigne was home to 8.4% of the spawning grounds for large salmonids in the Dordogne basin, according to a study carried out by ECOGEA for MIGADO. The Moulin Bas weir is an obstacle to migratory fish. It will therefore be removed during the works scheduled for autumn 2025, opening up 15 km of river, or 83% of the Souvigne’s length. Read more

Seuil de Batitan ©SMDMCA

The Batitan project

The Batitan dam is located on the Branugues stream, a tributary of the Cère, in the Cantal department. The Branugues stream is home to numerous species, including fario trout and river lamprey. As with the Moulin Bas project, work will start in autumn 2025, opening up more than 8 km of stream, or 87% of the creek. By eliminating this obstacle, it will be possible to restore upstream spawning habitats and bolster the trout population already present in the stream. Read more 

 

 

Upcoming webinar

Ahead of the next Open Rivers Programme call for projects, ERN will be organizing a webinar to present the program and eligibility criteria. (to be confirmed – May 20, 2025 in frenche).

 

Dates of the next Open Rivers Programme calls for projects

Summer session 2025: from June 9 to July 4, 2025 (decision and start of projects from November 2025)
Autumn session 2025: from October 6 to October 31, 2025 (decision and start of projects from March 2026).

Find out more about these projects and the Open Rivers program:

 

La loire à Champtoceau

Disparition de Philippe Auclerc et Laurent Roy : hommage

En ce début mars 2025, nous avons appris avec tristesse la disparition brutale de deux hommes passionnés et engagés pour les rivières : Philippe Auclerc, Rédacteur en chef pendant 25 ans de « La Loire et ses Terroirs » et de la lettre « Les Nouvelles du bassin de la Loire » et Laurent Roy, ancien Directeur de l’Eau et de la Biodiversité au Ministère de 2013 à 2015 et ancien Directeur de l’Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse jusqu’en 2023. Notre association a eu la chance de travailler avec eux, ils ont souvent partagé les visions de notre association et leurs compétences ont fait avancer la cause des rivières.

Philippe Auclerc était un fin connaisseur du territoire ligérien et de ses acteurs. Son engagement pour la préservation de la Loire et de ses affluents était profond et sa plume était sincère et souvent aiguisés sur la description du jeu d’acteur et le sens de la gestion de l’Eau du bassin. Son travail a plusieurs fois croisé les actions de l’association SOS Loire Vivante, il est venu nous voir dès les débuts de notre combat dans les années 1990 et a encore récemment été le modérateur de notre dernier colloque « Des Saumons et des Hommes » à Brioude en 2023, un sujet qui l’animait fortement. À travers ses écrits, il a su sensibiliser un large public aux enjeux environnementaux et patrimoniaux de ce fleuve. La disparition de Philippe marque la fin d’une époque pour les passionnés de la Loire, c’était le seul encore aujourd’hui à informer de la vie du fleuve, avec un sens critique, de la source à l’estuaire. Nous espérons que son projet de relier les ligériens perdurent. Nos pensées vont à sa famille et ses proches.

Laurent Roy a également joué un rôle important en faveur des politiques de gestion de l’eau et de préservation de la biodiversité en France tout au long de sa carrière. Avec European Rivers Network nous avons pu le rencontrer plusieurs fois lorsqu’il était au Ministère et à l’Agence de l’Eau, notamment au sujet du rétablissement de la continuité écologique sur le Rhin ou en lien avec le projet du label « Sites Rivières Sauvages ». Homme de conviction, sa capacité à dialoguer et échanger de manière constructive en faisait une personnalité respectée dans le milieu. Nous présentons nos sincères condoléances à sa famille.

Post-flood work in the Haute Loire: Stop indiscriminate management and clear-cutting

In an open letter to those responsible for planning, delegating or carrying out work to remove logjams, SOS Loire Vivante welcomes the rapid decision by the French government to provide financial support to communes and communities of communes, but is also surprised at the way in which the work has been carried out.

In some sectors, clear-cutting was carried out without any distinction being made between vegetation that poses a problem for the flow of water and vegetation that is useful for the proper functioning of the environment and for maintaining the banks. Riverside vegetation is a habitat for numerous species, including the emblematic beaver, the otter and many birds. The lack of training or guidelines for the companies to whom the work is delegated is no longer possible.

In its letter, the association also asked that future logjam removal and, above all, maintenance projects in the Allier region be subject to precise specifications to take account of biodiversity issues, while respecting the environment and species protection laws.

Read letter (in French only)