The Célé renaturation project in Figeac is an ambitious initiative that will open up around 38 km of waterway.
The Célé River has its source in the Massif Central, in the Cantal Département. It flows through the Lot Département and is part of the Adour-Garonne hydrographic basin. Its 104 km run through a low mountain landscape before joining the river Lot in a limestone landscape surrounded by small hills.
As it passes through the medieval town of Figeac, the river Célé is subject to a number of constraints. The town council has decided to remove one of the most important of these and open up 38 km of river (including tributaries).
Thanks to the efforts of local stakeholders, the river Célé has generally retained a certain degree of mobility. Along with its tributaries, it is the cradle of local biodiversity, with species such as the European otter, Salmo trutta, toxostome, pearl mussel and white-clawed crayfish.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | France |
| River | Célé |
| Removal date | July 2025 - June 2026 |
| Km to be opened | 38 km |
| Focal species | Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Toxostome (Parachondrostoma toxostoma), European otter |
| Organisation | Syndicat Mixte Célé - Lot Médian (public manager of aquatic environments and flood prevention) & Figeac Town (owner of the dam) |
| Website | celelotmedian.com & "Renaturation du site du Surgié" |
Despite its value as a natural environment, the river Célé is constrained in places by human use. In 2020, the town of Figeac decided to remove the Surgié dam, which was no longer of interest to tourists and was having a negative impact on the natural environment.
Since it was built in the 1980s, fish continuity has been impaired. The reservoir warms the river water, and the reservoir bed offers very few areas suitable for the reproduction of local species. The water body is prone to the development of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, with levels up to 60 times the bathing standard.
Through this project, the town of Figeac aims to enhance local biodiversity. Financial support from the Open Rivers Programme will enable the studies to be followed by works carried out between 2025 and 2026 to open up the river Célé.
The project to remove the dam and restore the hydromorphology of the river Célé is expected to increase biodiversity, with the development of species such as the European otter, Salmo trutta and the dipper (Cinclus cinclus).
It is hoped that the river’s resilience to climate change will be improved. The river will be returned to its historic meander, and the green and blue corridors will be strengthened, facilitating the connection between the two ZNIEFFs (Natural Area of Ecological, Faunal and Floral Interest) in the area.
Fish and sediment continuity will be restored, and the river will be opened up over approximately 38 km. The water will once again be able to circulate and will no longer be heated. The project will also provide an urban nature area, where residents can discover local biodiversity and reconnect with the living waters of the river Célé.
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