The water level of Lake Annecy worrying, the nautical attractions of the Imperial beach closed
“I have never seen the lake like this”, notes Juliette, a tourist room in Champagne to enjoy Annecy this summer. The last time she had been here was two years ago. “We can clearly see that there is less water. We can see the algae, we can see the old level with a change of color on the concrete”, she said again. The lake is, in fact, at a low and worrying level this summer.
As a result, the city of Annecy has decided to close public access to the slide and the diving board at the Imperial beach until further notice. “For Roman, it’s sure it’s a shame. We came for that. He’s angry now”says Jacqueline, an Annecy woman back in her city for the holidays.
Overall, this measure of the town hall is understood even if some do not necessarily agree. “There are people who complain but otherwise, everyone understands that it is because of the drought, that it is a justified measure given the shallowness”says Baptiste Robert, lifeguard on the Imperial beach.
Alarming situation for the waterways around the lake
“There, we have forty centimeters less water compared to the beginning of summer”continues Batiste Robert. Obvious consequence of drought explains Jean-Pierre Crouzat, treasurer of France Nature Environnement in Haute-Savoie. “The lake is not fed enough by its watershed. There has not been enough rain for weeks”he explains.
“But it is not alarming for the lake itself, there will always be water. It is worrying for the rivers which feed it and in particular for the Thiou which comes out of it. There is risks of what is called “dry”, i.e. the threshold which allows life to be maintained in the watercourse”further specifies Jean-Pierre Crouzat. “And then there is also evaporation. The lake loses water because of the high temperatures and the heat wave”he finishes.
Lake Annecy had already experienced an extremely low level in 2018 with a drop of almost 80 centimeters. A new record could be broken this year if it doesn’t rain a lot by All Saints’ Day.