The citizens’ march for water has just ended and the dialogue between the players is beginning

After 6 days of walking and 2 days of canoeing, the citizens’ walk for the fair sharing of water resources came to an end on Sunday 9 July after the Big Jump.

The forty or so walkers who took part between 1 and 9 July discovered all the facilities that make up the Montpezat hydroelectric complex in the Loire catchment area: the Veyradère water intake, the Issarlès lake, the Gage dam and the Lapalisse dam on the Loire. After climbing back up to the source of the Loire in magnificent surroundings and visiting the Atlantic/Mediterranean watershed, they followed the route of the gallery that leads to the equilibrium chimney, then to the underground hydroelectric power station at Monptezat. Finally, they were able to discover the Pont de Veyrières demodulator dam, which was exceptionally flooded that day. The walk ended at the confluence of the Fontaulière and Ardèche rivers. Admiring the technical prowess, the folly of man and questioning the sharing of water between man and the environment summed up the impression left by these structures on the walkers.

Along the way, meetings and 2 evening debates with EDF, as well as the main players impacted by the management of this structure (Issarlès lake town hall, members of the Loire Amont and Ardèche SAGEs, Water Agency, 43 Fishing Federation, FRAPNA Ardèche, local residents) provided an opportunity to continue but also to initiate interactive discussions and to identify the problems and visions of the two basins (increasing scarcity of resources, Lake Issarlès as the lung of Montpezat and angry local residents, committed water saving, impact of tourism on drinking water and the environment, etc.). These moments of exchange, welcomed by all the stakeholders, are the beginning of a story that will soon be written as part of the renewal of the complex’s concession. Getting to know each other and the state of the resource, discussing needs and problems is a prerequisite for finding a new compromise and solutions that meet the needs of people, environments and uses.

2 days of canoeing on the Ardèche and a Big Jump rounded off this week of learning and discovery.

More information about walking

More information on the Montpezat complex

The recordings of the two evening debates will be available shortly.

Prise d’eau de la Veyradère © ERN

Débat Le Lac d’Issarlès

La Loire près de sources © ERN

Mont Gerbier de Jonc © ERN

© ERN

© ERN