what impact on wildlife?

Fishing Federation: a violent flood can strip everything

Pierre Grès, head of the technical service at the Loire fishing federation puts things into perspective, “a moderate flood can have a rather improving effect on the fish habitat, restoring it. On the other hand, a violent flood will strip everything in a given area and in this case we can end up with significant damage to 90 to 95% of the fish affected. For the flood of October 17, the entire upper valley of the Gier, on the Dorlay, Couzon rivers, and on the Pilat, Déome, Ternay, Valencize, Régrillon is truly catastrophic, particularly for the trout population. We are going to carry out a more reinforced fish inventory on the Pilat to see where we are.”

Another problem, according to the technician, “this flood necessarily led to ruptures on certain elements of the wastewater collectors, which can cause pollution, which is not quantified for the moment”.

On the Loire river there are fewer problems, “it has a very slight slope. When the waters rise, the fish have the opportunity to follow the movement and then return to the initial channel. It’s more annoying in small, very steep rivers.”

France nature Environnement: “Animals know how to deal with bad weather conditions”

Mickaël Villemagne, from France Nature Environnement explains that all the wildlife near the banks of the Loire could have been impacted during the floods. Amphibians which could have been displaced by the force of the water, but also beavers, coypus and otters which could have been trapped in their burrows. I even saw a dead deer. Surely an animal which tried to escape the rising waters but which did not go in the right direction, found itself stuck and drowned. Otherwise the animals know how to deal with bad weather conditions.”

On the violent wind, Mr. Villemagne affirms, “it is more complicated to note observations on the force of the wind. The birds will take shelter, move around less while waiting for it to pass. Not really a problem except during the storm of December 1999, where forests were devastated. There we experienced 2-3 days of wind, especially a stormy Monday morning. Gusts, up to 90 km/h, the birds can manage, beyond that, it’s more complicated.”

French Biodiversity Office: “No tangible data on the subject”

Arnaud Piel, deputy director of the OFB Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes does not have any data at his disposal. “For the moment we do not have data on climate change and its impacts on biodiversity. Feelings, yes, but as a public establishment we must rely on tangible data. We have not yet developed a protocol on this subject. But we are working on it.”

Loire Hunting Federation: “During the nesting period, a flood can be catastrophic”

Gérard Aubret, president of the departmental hunting federation, does not see many consequences for wildlife either. “It really takes a very strong wind in a wooded area to disturb the animals. Rising water levels can, on the other hand, be catastrophic, especially in spring, for waterfowl at the time of nesting, all nesting can be reduced to nothing. It really takes periods of extreme cold or prolonged drought to see damage. Animals have a great capacity for adaptation.”