Adoption of new water management plan

The new Water Management and Development Plan (Sage) for the Vilaine basin was finally approved on October 16 during a meeting of the Local Water Commission (CLE) in Saint-Just (Ille-et-Vilaine). The plan received 45 votes out of 63, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for approval.

Water quality challenges in the Vilaine basin

The Sage, which has been under revision since 2022, aims to improve water quality in the Vilaine basin, where less than 6% of surface water masses are in good ecological condition. This poor state is primarily attributed to intensive agricultural practices that involve heavy use of pesticides.

Ban on maize herbicides sparks controversy

One key provision in the Sage, known as "Rule No. 1," proposes banning the use of maize herbicides on steep land parcels near priority drinking water capture areas. These areas cover 1.4% of the basin under the water management plan. The rule has sparked tensions with the agricultural community, leading to blockages from syndicates representing productive agriculture and delaying the final adoption of the plan.

Commission resists agricultural pressure

Despite strong opposition from agricultural groups, the CLE did not yield to threats from the majority syndicates. The Sage was officially adopted on the morning of October 16. Ludovic Brossard, president of the Rennes Basin Water Community and a Rennes municipal councilor, was elected as the new president of the CLE. Brossard is known for his environmental advocacy and efforts to phase out pesticide use.

Environmental groups celebrate plan's approval

Environmental organizations, including the Collective Support for Victims of Pesticides in the West (CVSPO), the Peasant Confederation, and Eau et Rivières de Bretagne, have actively supported the Sage. They faced opposition from the FNSEA, the major agricultural union. Pauline Pennober from Eau et Rivières de Bretagne expressed relief that the plan is finally moving forward, stating that democracy has prevailed. The groups now await the prefect's ratification of the decree, expected to take one to two months for the new Sage to take effect.