France faces severe drought with nearly half of small watercourses dry

The French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) has reported that nearly half of the observed small watercourses in France (49.6%) are currently experiencing a total loss of flow or are completely dry. This situation affects 1,594 initial watercourse sections, which are critical as they provide between 55% and 70% of the water for downstream rivers.

According to the OFB, this represents the most severe situation recorded since 2012. The drought is characterized by its unprecedented persistence, lasting more than four months in the same sectors, and its tendency to worsen during September, a month when stabilization is typically expected.

The degradation is linked to rising water temperatures, which the OFB warns can lead to increased mortality rates, impaired long-term reproductive capacity, and disrupted species circulation. All regions in France are affected, with particularly critical conditions noted along an axis stretching from Vendée through various regions.