Drought governance: the case of the Lower Vilaine River Basin (Brittany, France)

Abstract

The impact of climate change on the water cycle requires an anticipation of the variability of the water resource. Although the problems caused by drought in Northwest Europe are currently not highly visible, early actions should be taken to reduce costs and prevent damage. In this context, the European project INTERREG IVB DROP proposes to explore drought governance in 6 case studies located in North Western European Region. The notion of governance refers here to the context in which the projects to combat drought and water scarcity are implemented. The results presented here are those from the analysis of interviews conducted in 2013 and 2014 with stakeholders of the Vilaine catchment and more specifically of the downstream-Vilaine concerned with the management of the Arzal dam. It emerges that, despite a highly developed and effective governance of drinking water management - in which the Vilaine Planning Institute (IAV, Institut d'Aménagement de la Vilaine) plays a pivotal role as coordinator of the river basin management authority (the SAGE Vilaine) as well as being the manager of the Arzal dam - local drought governance in relation to climate change still appears to be rather weak.