Drought in France: 1,373 Small Watercourses Affected

Paris – 05.08.2026: Persistent drought is taking an increasing toll on France’s small watercourses. According to figures from August 4, sections of 1,373 monitored bodies of water have dried up or flows have been interrupted. The figure shows how rapidly the already strained hydrological situation in spring has worsened over the summer.

The survey is based on the ONDE monitoring network operated by the French Biodiversity Office. Its experts inspect around 3,230 monitoring sites nationwide using a standardized method. As early as July 1, the authority had recorded 819 watercourses with dry sections or interrupted flow. By the end of June, the network was therefore in an exceptionally critical condition for this time of year; the data series dates back to 2012.

The strain varies by region. At the beginning of July, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and northern Nouvelle-Aquitaine in particular reported numerous impacts. Creuse, Deux-Sèvres, Loire, Vendée, Côte-d’Or, Cher, Aveyron and Allier were among the areas especially affected. The latest data now point to a further worsening over the course of the summer.

The Ministry for Ecological Transition considers the 2026 drought to have begun early and to be severe. It points to a spring with little precipitation, rising seasonal temperatures, and heatwaves in May, June and July. Small streams react particularly quickly to a lack of rainfall and high evaporation. Falling water levels also put pressure on wetlands and species that depend on these habitats.

At the same time, pressure on the available resource is growing. On July 24, water-use restrictions were in force in all 99 departments of mainland France. The highest alert level had been declared in 59 departments, while a heightened alert level applied in another 23. Depending on local conditions, prefectures can limit irrigation, water withdrawals, and certain private or commercial uses. Drinking-water supply takes priority in the state’s drought management.

At the end of July, the government reconvened the hydrological preparedness and monitoring committee. The body brings together data from Météo-France, the geological service BRGM and other specialist agencies. It examines groundwater levels, soil moisture and surface water, as drought develops differently by region and measures must be adapted locally.

The ONDE data provide municipalities and prefectures with a basis for restrictions and protective measures. The increase from 819 to 1,373 affected watercourses within just over a month documents how significantly the reserves of many small bodies of water have dwindled so far this summer.