through a Local Water Commission (LWC, or CLE for Commission Locale de
l’Eau in French) composed of State representatives (25 %), local authorities (50 %)
and users (25 %). The members of the LWC are, thus, the main actors in the
development of the SAGE.
Since 2006, the SAGE includes a plan for sustainable management of water
resources and aquatic environments within a new document, the PAGD (Plan
d’Aménagement et de Gestion Durable de la ressource en eau et des milieux
aquatiques), with a plan of action aiming at achieving good ecological status for the
sub-river basin. Urban planning documents must also comply with the objectives of
water resource protection defined by the SAGE.
6.2.3 Drought Adaptation in France
In response to the frequency of water scarcity situations that occurred during the
drought episodes observed at the end of the twentieth century, as described in
Sect. 6.2.1, the French public authorities have gradually developed drought control
policies and short-term mitigation action plans. Drought control management in
France is now part of the legal frameworks and procedures governing general
national water management. Measures to address droughts have two primary basic
aspects: crisis management through emergency actions and mean to long-term
quantitative/qualitative water resources management. The former involves measures
set up within the framework of the river basin management plans (SDAGE), while
the latter is more related to the national plan that copes with climate issues, which is
implemented through the regional climate change action plans (named SRCAE, for
Schéma regional climat, air, énergie, and meaning “Regional Scheme for Climate,
Air and Energy”).
6.2.3.1 Emergency Actions
Temporary periods of drought and water scarcity in France are generally managed
through emergency actions, such as water use bans on non-priority uses, which are
under the authority of the State. Bylaws imposing individual and collective
restrictions and bans on water use are temporary. Drought control measures must be
proportional to the water scarcity level and adapted to the required mitigation
actions. In 2005, methodological guidelines to be followed in the case of a drought
were published by the national government. This document recommends a progressive phasing of four levels of alert (monitoring/alert/crisis/critical crisis), which
are adapted to the local water resource situation and historical background. It can be
supported by the online cartographic tool PROPLUVIA.
1
1
http://propluvia.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/propluvia/faces/index.jsp.
6 The Governance Context of Drought Policy and Pilot Measures …
115
l’Eau in French) composed of State representatives (25 %), local authorities (50 %)
and users (25 %). The members of the LWC are, thus, the main actors in the
development of the SAGE.
Since 2006, the SAGE includes a plan for sustainable management of water
resources and aquatic environments within a new document, the PAGD (Plan
d’Aménagement et de Gestion Durable de la ressource en eau et des milieux
aquatiques), with a plan of action aiming at achieving good ecological status for the
sub-river basin. Urban planning documents must also comply with the objectives of
water resource protection defined by the SAGE.
6.2.3 Drought Adaptation in France
In response to the frequency of water scarcity situations that occurred during the
drought episodes observed at the end of the twentieth century, as described in
Sect. 6.2.1, the French public authorities have gradually developed drought control
policies and short-term mitigation action plans. Drought control management in
France is now part of the legal frameworks and procedures governing general
national water management. Measures to address droughts have two primary basic
aspects: crisis management through emergency actions and mean to long-term
quantitative/qualitative water resources management. The former involves measures
set up within the framework of the river basin management plans (SDAGE), while
the latter is more related to the national plan that copes with climate issues, which is
implemented through the regional climate change action plans (named SRCAE, for
Schéma regional climat, air, énergie, and meaning “Regional Scheme for Climate,
Air and Energy”).
6.2.3.1 Emergency Actions
Temporary periods of drought and water scarcity in France are generally managed
through emergency actions, such as water use bans on non-priority uses, which are
under the authority of the State. Bylaws imposing individual and collective
restrictions and bans on water use are temporary. Drought control measures must be
proportional to the water scarcity level and adapted to the required mitigation
actions. In 2005, methodological guidelines to be followed in the case of a drought
were published by the national government. This document recommends a progressive phasing of four levels of alert (monitoring/alert/crisis/critical crisis), which
are adapted to the local water resource situation and historical background. It can be
supported by the online cartographic tool PROPLUVIA.
1
1
http://propluvia.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/propluvia/faces/index.jsp.
6 The Governance Context of Drought Policy and Pilot Measures …
115