Sources : Figure 1 / Figure 2 / Figure 3
Go to our french website "Key figures"
Snow: a resource under pressure
of water
to create 2 m³ of snow, in France
of the ski area
covered by artificial snow in France in 2023
of water withdrawn per inhabitant
in French ski resorts in 2015
Mountain regions are experiencing the full impact of climate change, with a melting snowpack and a significant reduction in natural snow cover. To compensate, ski resorts are increasingly resorting to artificial snow. However, during the winter season, rivers reach their lowest levels, exacerbating periods of low water.
Furthermore, there are temporary peaks in demand for water in ski resorts during the winter season, due to the influx of tourists. These fluctuations create pressure on water resources, which can lead to conflicts of use.
For over 12 years, OiEau has published the monthly National Hydrological Bulletin (BSH) in collaboration with several technical partners and with the support of the French biodiversity agency (OFB). It provides a monthly overview of water resources in mainland France.
OiEau, which coordinates the LIFE Water&Climate project, is also involved in the launch of the DRIAS-Eau portal, developed by Météo-France, which provides hydrological projections of surface and groundwater. The portal enables all stakeholders to gain a better understanding of how water resources will evolve in the coming years, at the local level, so that they can prepare themselves better.
A few examples of projects
