They were looking for a quiet, cool place without too many tourists and set their sights on Vassivière, a tourist site straddling the departments of Haute-Vienne and Creuse. “An ideal body of water where we practiced canoeing and paddleboarding”, testify Rémi Brouchier and Orlane Blondin, from Ardèche. In this month of July, despite the drought and a decree restricting the use of water, they were able to practice nautical activities thanks to a “tourist coast”. Clearly, a minimum water level between July 1 and August 30, negotiated between EDF, the manager, and the joint union of Vassivière, so that tourists can fully enjoy the lake.
“For the moment, the heat wave and the drought have no impact on nautical and leisure activities in Vassivière. With this coast negotiated, we are privileged. I was in Serre-Ponçon last weekend, they had lowered the level by more than 10 m, ”says Laurence Puissant, communication officer for the tourist office.
If Vassivière is filled with water at 85% of its capacity, the site has many other uses than welcoming tourists in the summer. The lake was originally created to generate electricity, with its dam 33m high and 233m long. The water is routed 40 m underground to the hydroelectric power station located in Peyrat-le-Château. EDF, which operates the site, is responsible for the delicate management of the resource.
Maintain the level of the Vienne for the Civaux power plant
Vassivière also supplies Limoges and its surrounding area with drinking water, is used in industry, for watering agricultural land and, above all, allows the operation of the Civaux nuclear power plant in Vienne. “For the plant, it is necessary to maintain a flow of 13 m3/second in the Vienne”, notes Éric Hulot, coordinator for the prefecture of the drought committee.
If the water resource is dwindling, the prefecture of Haute-Vienne can arbitrate and decide, as recently with the anti-drought decree of July 13, to prohibit individuals from watering during the day. The prefectural authority can go further if the situation becomes tense. In 2018, boaters on the lake were hit with a navigation ban, as the water level was lowered to keep Civaux running smoothly.
“We are currently not under pressure, but we are constantly adapting, summarizes Didier Casse, deputy director of EDF Hydrocentre west. In times of drought, priorities are determined. The prefecture decides. » Éric Hulot, head of the forest environment water service of the departmental directorate of the territories of Haute-Vienne, details: « The priorities are drinking water, Civaux and the entire economic sector. »