French irrigation reservoirs and habitat restoration in Deux‑Sèvres

Regional authorities in western France are carrying out ecological monitoring and habitat‑restoration work while reviving water‑storage projects. In the Deux‑Sèvres department, extensive sheep grazing on the limestone hills of Availles‑Thouarsais is being used to control the spread of the invasive plant Brachypode, with scientific monitoring overseen by the Department of Deux‑Sèvres and Deux‑Sèvres Nature Environnement (DSNE). A separate study follows the rare carnivorous plant Grassette du Portugal at the Landes de l’Hopiteau, assessing population dynamics after habitat‑reopening works.

In neighbouring Charente‑Maritime, officials describe irrigation reservoirs as a form of crop‑insurance. Two reservoirs at Benon, authorized under the 2009 water law, were later halted by a 2016 law and an administrative‑court decision, costing €3‑4 million each. Delays and repeated studies have added roughly €1.8 million in expenses. After two decades, the project is finally moving forward, with permits being filed and construction expected to start later this year. Stakeholders call for greater representation of agricultural interests in water‑management bodies.