In May 2025, a significant milestone was reached on Demonstration Site 6 (DS6), dedicated to improving aquatic system restoration and water management in the Vienne River basin (France). The first phase of restoration works on Site 1, in Saint-Yrieix-sous-Aixe has now been successfully completed.
Historical context
For decades, small artificial ponds constructed as dams have fragmented watercourses throughout the basin. These structures were initially created for ornamental and recreational purposes. However, they pose serious challenges:
- They block natural water flows,
- They hinder the movement of aquatic life and sediments,
- And they significantly increase evaporation losses, a critical issue in the context of climate change.
Estimates show that over-evaporation(1) from these ponds equals the basin’s total drinking water withdrawals, a situation that highlights the need for action to secure water resources for ecosystems, agriculture, industry, and communities.
What Has Been Achieved?
The works carried out on Site 1 aimed to restore a more natural hydrological regime. Key actions included:
- Emptying the artificial pond, directing its water through a settling basin to avoid sediment pollution downstream,
- Rescuing fish populations and removing invasive species,
- Breaching the dam to allow the natural watercourse to flow freely once again.
These interventions contribute directly to re-establishing natural processes, supporting biodiversity, and improving the ecological functioning of the river system.
What’s Next?
The next months will allow nature to take its course. The mud will dry throughout the summer, and the watercourse will naturally redefine its path.
A second phase of restoration is planned later this year, including a complete removal of the dam, the restoration of the riverbed where necessary and the creation of a small, disconnected pond to serve as a biodiversity refuge without impacting the river’s flow.
Why This Matters?
Removing artificial ponds and restoring watercourses helps to:
- Reduce evaporation,
- Improve natural flow regimes,
- Reconnect habitats for wildlife,
- Support sediment transport and ecological continuity.
These actions contribute to strengthening the basin’s resilience to climate change while preserving water resources for future needs.
Through such concrete examples, NATALIE demonstrates how nature-based solutions (NBS) can offer effective responses to water management challenges across Europe. Discover more of the CS#6 here.
(1) Corresponds to the excess evaporation from a pond compared with a wet meadow.