The hydrological bulletin of the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park: precipitation and a resumption of the hydrological cycle.
After two years marked by rainfall deficits and often insufficient recharge of groundwater bodies, the rain episodes in October (163 mm – +120%) and more generally the rainfall measured since the start of the year 2024 (647 mm – +11%) act as thinnings.
After a beneficial spring for groundwater recharge and a summer with flow rates close to seasonal averages, the situation was rather stable as autumn approached. If the rainfall in September (60.5 mm) barely stemmed the drop in levels, the month of October proved beneficial, allowing the resumption of the hydrological cycle in all the sources of southern Aveyron. Essential period (October-March) for recharging aquifers, all aquifers currently display high to very high levels.
At the source of the Ségala at Lapanouse-de-Sévérac, the flow rates are close to normal, with two very marked floods noted during the month of October. On the Larzac East side, on the sources of Durzon and Cernon, a similar situation, with a return to significant flow rates. Another notable effect, further south, on the Céras source in Brusque, which, very often impacted by dry episodes, sees a nice increase in its flow rates.
However, despite this increase in rainfall and the return to a situation close to normal, vigilance must continue with regard to the resource. The recovery of the hydrological cycle is only just beginning and only a rainy winter will allow the maintenance of a suitable level of groundwater bodies.
The detailed bulletin is available on parc-grands-causses.fr.
