Vilaine catchment, which led to the development of specific rules.
A comprehensive approach could be undertaken regarding the sensitivity of the area
to the potential impact of drought related to climate change. This could be extended
to the whole area of the catchment and contribute to establish a typology of geographical sectors and activities sensitive to climate change impacts. A more accurate assessment of the vulnerability of these sectors and territories, i.e. a precise
evaluation of the consequences of drought and water scarcity for each type of
activity and each location in space, would allow stakeholders to better anticipate the
impact of a reduction of water resources on their activities.
6.6.4 Support the Development of Integrated Drought
and Water Scarcity Management
Finally, a foresight analysis could lead to the identification of the most efficient
measures to be implemented to take into account the potential climate change
impacts on the Vilaine catchment into the economic activities of the water uses.
This would support the development of integrated drought and water scarcity
management, considering drought impacts on surface water as well as on
groundwater and soil moisture.
To this end, a drought management and adaptation plan could be elaborated to
address the impacts not only on surface water but also on soil and agricultural
practices. In fact, the most recent droughts in the region were agricultural droughts.
As far as water is concerned, a more comprehensive and effective policy aimed at
reducing water consumption and withdrawals can be recommended. However,
anticipatory drought management relies not only on the regulation of water level
and withdrawals but also on techniques that, both, survey and help to keep moisture
in the soil, which is of paramount importance for agricultural activities.
By identifying in advance drought adaptation measures to be implemented,
anticipatory vulnerability assessments of surface water, groundwater and soils
would complement the only measures of crisis management presently observed in
the catchment regarding drought issues.
Drought adaptation plans could also be related to other planning documents,
such as the one related directly to climate change, which usually relies upon other
types of actors (i.e. SRCAE instrument cited in Sect. 6.2.2). Joint actions between
the LWC and those actors already involved with climate change studies are highly
recommended.
136
I. La Jeunesse et al.
A comprehensive approach could be undertaken regarding the sensitivity of the area
to the potential impact of drought related to climate change. This could be extended
to the whole area of the catchment and contribute to establish a typology of geographical sectors and activities sensitive to climate change impacts. A more accurate assessment of the vulnerability of these sectors and territories, i.e. a precise
evaluation of the consequences of drought and water scarcity for each type of
activity and each location in space, would allow stakeholders to better anticipate the
impact of a reduction of water resources on their activities.
6.6.4 Support the Development of Integrated Drought
and Water Scarcity Management
Finally, a foresight analysis could lead to the identification of the most efficient
measures to be implemented to take into account the potential climate change
impacts on the Vilaine catchment into the economic activities of the water uses.
This would support the development of integrated drought and water scarcity
management, considering drought impacts on surface water as well as on
groundwater and soil moisture.
To this end, a drought management and adaptation plan could be elaborated to
address the impacts not only on surface water but also on soil and agricultural
practices. In fact, the most recent droughts in the region were agricultural droughts.
As far as water is concerned, a more comprehensive and effective policy aimed at
reducing water consumption and withdrawals can be recommended. However,
anticipatory drought management relies not only on the regulation of water level
and withdrawals but also on techniques that, both, survey and help to keep moisture
in the soil, which is of paramount importance for agricultural activities.
By identifying in advance drought adaptation measures to be implemented,
anticipatory vulnerability assessments of surface water, groundwater and soils
would complement the only measures of crisis management presently observed in
the catchment regarding drought issues.
Drought adaptation plans could also be related to other planning documents,
such as the one related directly to climate change, which usually relies upon other
types of actors (i.e. SRCAE instrument cited in Sect. 6.2.2). Joint actions between
the LWC and those actors already involved with climate change studies are highly
recommended.
136
I. La Jeunesse et al.