Key figure of the week: the hydrological situation in mainland France

Source: Bulletin national de situation hydrologique - No. May 2023

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OiEau, a recognised public interest organisation, has made the sharing of data and knowledge one of its core missions. For more than 30 years, we have been helping a wide variety of stakeholders to improve water resource management, by providing them with a wide range of media and resources that are genuine decision-making aids.

These include the "Bulletin national de situation hydrologique" (BSH), published monthly and available free of charge on the "Eaufrance" website, the public information service on water and aquatic environments that facilitates access to public information on water in France.

The BSH is produced under the aegis of an editorial committee made up of partner data producers and managers.

It is run by OiEau, in conjunction with the French Office for Biodiversity and the Water and Biodiversity Directorate of the French Ministry for Ecological Transition.

This BSH is the result of collaboration between various organisations with complementary skills:

• Météo-France for meteorological data (rainfall, soil moisture, snow cover).
• The Regional Directorates for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Housing (DREAL) and the Central Hydrometeorological and Flood Forecasting Support Service (SCHAPI), for data on river flows and the state of filling of dams (in collaboration with other national players, such as Electricité de France(EDF), Voies Navigables de France (VNF) and territorial basin public establishmentssuch as Seine Grands Lacs and Loire). Each region in the basin also produces its own newsletter, which is generally published monthly. This gives access to a finer scale of detail.
• The Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières(BRGM) for groundwater levels. This data is produced ten times a year, which explains why it is not included in some bulletins;
• The French Biodiversity Office(OFB) for observations on low water levels (between June and October).

The BSH has had a facelift. From this issue of May 2023, its new layout will give you an easier access to information.