Opening of the Poutès dam on Monday 7 October

As has been the case every year for the past 3 years, the large gates of the ‘New Poutès’ were opened in automn to allow the highly migratory fish free passage and a free access to the best spawning grounds.

This year, 67 salmon from the Loire-Allier axis passed through the fish pass on the right bank of the Vichy dam bridge, but it is estimated that around a hundred fish must have passed through.

After interrupting their migration to spend the summer between Vichy and Langeac in the Allier or its tributaries, the survivors have restarted their migration towards the Dore, Sioule or Alagnon, and of course the Allier, with the arrival of more favourable temperatures. Over the next few days, they will pass through the Brioude, Vielle Brioude and Langeac dams before reaching the new Poutès dam, where the sluice gates were lowered on Monday in anticipation of their arrival.

Last year, spawning grounds were observed upstream of the Poutès, indicating that more than a dozen fish had returned to the Upper Allier. It is not yet possible to count fish at Poutès when the gates are open, but observing the spawning grounds upstream is still a good indicator. About ten spawners are expected to pass this year.

The gates will remain open for 2 months before closing again to enable hydroelectric production to resume.

Watch our two 2-minute videos

• The new Poutes Dam
• The Salmon’s Obstacle course on Allier river

and the webpage : ‘New Poutes dam‘