Over the first three months of the year, the rainfall deficit reached 60% in Northern Ardèche compared to the average. And the first affected are the breeders. In a few days, the first meadow cuts for fodder will begin. The grass or the crops are not very high except for the farmers who can irrigate and who started three weeks ago. An abnormal situation because it is always difficult to tap into the water reserves from the month of April.
Other crops are also affected, for example in the Chomérac region in Ardèche, where farmers have also been using irrigation for a few weeks.
Surface dryness
Deep water, that of the aquifers, has normal levels, there is no deficit at this level except in certain sectors of the Drôme: the water table of the North Drôme is very low, as is that of the Val de Drôme at the level of Grâne and crest.
The cool and rainy summer of 2021 and the autumn rains have allowed the aquifers to be well recharged with a few exceptions.