The removal of the dams on the Sélune River is the subject of a scientific program launched in 2012, in which environmental parameters are monitored in order to provide real feedback on this restoration operation. In 2019, a data observatory was set up to collect and process these parameters (biotic and abiotic). The data acquired from 2012 and at least until 2027 will be centralized through an information system (IS) called SISelune. SISelune aims to assist scientists associated with the Sélune program and make the data accessible to all. This layer shows the study area, based on hydrographic sub-basins for the continental part and the transitional water body for the Bay of Mont St-Michel.

In 2020, scientific plots were set up, marked out on the ground with colored stakes. These plots are intended to facilitate scientific monitoring, particularly of renaturation. These plots represent privileged areas for scientists, where no sediment or vegetation disturbance is planned until the end of the Sélune program.

The re-establishment of the river continuum on the Sélune after the dams have been levelled will enable colonization of the upper reaches of the basin, which were previously inaccessible to eels. Before the dams were levelled, two main tributaries were used by amphihaline fish for reproduction, in addition to the main river: the Beuvron and the Oir. The eel population of the Sélune was monitored in the pre-flushing phase by abundance index campaigns carried out in 2013, 2015, 2019 on a network of stations covering the entire Sélune hydrographic network. Since 2021, this network of stations has evolved to monitor changes in the part of the watershed accessible following the dismantling of the 2 dams. These data enable us to estimate changes in eel abundance along the Sélune and its tributaries, as well as their size structure before and after the removal of the dams. The inventory is carried out in early September, every other year between 2013 and 2019, then every year since, using an electric fishing device and dip nets. Thirty thirty-second fishing stations are set up. A fishing station comprises approximately 100 meters of river. All eels caught are anaesthetized and biometric measurements are taken (weight, length, horizontal and vertical eye diameter, determination of yellow or silver stage). All eels are released directly at the fishing site. Two different protocols were implemented: the Eel Abundance Index (Pottier and Chapon, 2022) at 23 stations and exhaustion fishing at eight other stations (IAA01 to IAA08) on the Oir River and some of its tributaries, according to an internal protocol. This layer provides station abundances by fishing session.

Continuous monitoring stations for hydrological, physical, chemical, and sedimentary parameters have been installed on the Sélune River as part of the scientific program to monitor the removal of the Sélune dams. Measurements have been taken at least hourly since 2014. Since 2019, these stations have been under the responsibility of the Sélune Observatory, which is in charge of monitoring environmental parameters (biotic and abiotic). The physical and chemical parameters measured at all stations include turbidity, water level, and conductivity. At some stations, pH and dissolved oxygen or chlorophyll concentration are also measured. This layer provides the corrected measurements from the hydrological measurement stations. This layer provides corrected measurements from the SIGNY, LA-ROCHE-QUI-BOIT, VIREY, and DORIERE (only until October 2020) hydrological measuring stations.

Continuous monitoring stations for hydrological, physical, chemical, and sedimentary parameters have been installed on the Sélune River as part of the scientific program to monitor the removal of the Sélune dams. Measurements have been taken at least hourly since 2014. Since 2019, these stations have been under the responsibility of the Sélune Observatory, which is in charge of monitoring environmental parameters (biotic and abiotic). The physical and chemical parameters measured at all stations include turbidity, water level, and conductivity. At some stations, pH and dissolved oxygen or chlorophyll concentration are also measured. This layer provides raw measurements from the SIGNY, LA-ROCHE-QUI-BOIT, VIREY, and DORIERE (only until October 2020) hydrological measuring stations.

The opening of the dams will have a considerable impact on the functioning of trout populations in the Sélune. Restoring the river's ecological continuity will modify population flows, allowing amphihaline sea trout to migrate further upstream, and native trout to move upstream and downstream of the dams. The trout population is monitored at a network of stations covering the entire Sélune basin, using an abundance index carried out every 2 years. Field campaigns follow the Vigitruite® fishing protocol, developed at INRAE for use throughout France. This index of abundance, related to the surface area of favorable habitats on the watercourse, makes it possible to evaluate the quantity of trout present in the river, resulting from natural reproduction in previous years. Field campaigns are carried out by INRAE and the Fédération d'Ille-et-Vilaine pour la Pêche et la Protection du Milieu Aquatique (FDAAPPMA35). This layer shows the locations of these study sectors by year of study : 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 et 2025.

Microbial communities play a major role in the functioning of ecosystems: they are at the base of the food chain (primary production) and participate in the degradation of organic matter. These communities are also known to respond rapidly to environmental changes. Like macro-invertebrates, they can be used as ecological indicators. Benthic diatoms are the main photosynthetic organisms in this biological community. The relative abundance of the various species is used to calculate an environmental quality index (EQI). Major differences in communities between the upstream and downstream zones were observed when the dams were in place. These differences will change once the dams are removed. As part of the Sélune observatory, pilot stations have been set up along the main course of the Sélune, distributed from upstream to downstream of the hydroelectric dams. Three stations are located in the former reservoirs of the dams, while the other two, known as the reference stations, are outside the area of influence of the former dams (one downstream and the other upstream). At these stations, aquatic biocenoses (including benthic macroinvertebrates, biofilms, macrophytes, etc.) are monitored. Since September 2014, the stations are ideally sampled every month from April to October (7 annual surveys) using artificial substrates (glass slides placed in the water). In addition to the diatom survey (floristic list, IBD calculation), the chlorophyll-a concentration is measured. This layer shows the location of the study sectors used to monitor photosynthetic biofilms and the campaigns carried out.

The re-establishment of the river continuum of the Sélune after the levelling of the dams will enable the colonization of the upstream part of the basin which was previously inaccessible to trout. As a result, monitoring of amphihaline fish populations on the Sélune is carried out on the main river and its tributaries, both upstream and downstream of the former dams. These enable us to understand the dynamics of these common trout populations before, during and after dam removal. Regarding the trouts, the inventory is carried out using the VIGITRUITE® protocol. This is a standardized protocol for estimating the abundance of juvenile trout (Salmo trutta) in rivers. It is based on sampling per unit effort, a unit fixed at 5 minutes of effective fishing, and thus delivers abundances in numbers of juveniles per 5 minutes. Abacuses for converting abundances into densities are available, and a guide to interpreting densities, from low to excellent, is proposed. Compared with traditional inventories, this protocol enables a smaller number of people to be mobilized in the field. The protocol applies to watercourses up to 8 m wide and never more than 60 cm deep. It has been validated on granite and limestone rivers in Brittany and Normandy. VIGITRUITE® specifically targets juveniles of the year (0+) and yearlings (1+). The 0+ abundance provides information on generation replacement (or recruitment), useful for population demographic monitoring. The abundance of 0+ and 1+ is also a reflection of the quality of the trutticole habitat, and of specific attacks on its integrity (pollution, sedimentation, fragmentation in particular). It is a diagnostic tool for trout populations and their river habitats. This protocol is applied in September of the years in question: every 2 years between 2012 and 2020, then every year from 2021 to 2027. The year 2020 is special because of the COVID. For more information on acquisition conditions, please refer to the Sélune biocenosis observatory reports, the links to which are provided in this document. This dataset provides juvenile trout abundance data (0+, 1+ and cumulative), by station and fishing session.

Microbial communities play a major role in the functioning of ecosystems: they are at the base of the food chain (primary production) and participate in the degradation of organic matter. These communities are also known to respond rapidly to environmental changes. Like macro-invertebrates, they can be used as ecological indicators. Benthic diatoms are the main photosynthetic organisms in this biological community. The relative abundance of the different species is used to calculate an environmental quality index (EQI). Major differences in communities between the upstream and downstream zones were observed when the dams were in place. These differences will change once the dams are removed. As part of the Sélune observatory, pilot stations have been set up along the main course of the Sélune, distributed from upstream to downstream of the hydroelectric dams. Three stations are located in the former reservoirs of the dams, while the other two, known as the reference stations, are outside the area of influence of the former dams (one downstream and the other upstream). At these stations, aquatic biocenoses (including benthic macroinvertebrates, biofilms, macrophytes, etc.) are monitored. Since September 2014, the stations are ideally sampled every month from April to October (7 annual surveys) using artificial substrates (glass slides placed in the water). In addition to the diatom survey (floristic list, IBD calculation), the chlorophyll-a concentration is measured. During each campaign, an INRAe experimental sampling protocol is implemented. This protocol involves the immersion (1 month) of glass slides, an in situ measurement of the chlorophyll-a concentration via BentoTorch and then the collection of the biofilm on these glass slides. The biofilm is conditioned in (1) 99.9% ethanol to determine IBDs and floristic lists (outsourced service, based on standard NF T90-354) and (2) mineral water to measure chlorophyll-a concentration using a spectrometer. NB: the year 2023 is not covered in terms of measuring chlorophyll-a concentration via spectrometry due to a problem with the low-temperature storage of samples. This dataset provides measurements of the average daily concentration of chlorophyll-a and pheopigment in µg/cm2/day.