The opening of the dams should impact the functioning of Atlantic salmon populations migrating up the Sélune and its tributaries. Restoring the river's ecological continuity will alter population flows by allowing Atlantic salmon to migrate further upstream and downstream of the dams. The Atlantic salmon population is monitored at a network of stations covering the entire Sélune basin using an abundance index, which was carried out every two years before 2021 and annually since then. Field campaigns comply with the fishing protocol developed by INRAE and OFB. The aim of this method is to estimate the abundance of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at a station (or sector). This protocol targets juveniles of the year (aged 0+) whose abundance reflects the renewal of generations within the population (or recruitment) and survival after the embryonic development phases under gravel and the first months of life in the open environment. Field campaigns are carried out by INRAE and the Manche d'Ille-et-Vilaine Federation for Fishing and the Protection of the Aquatic Environment (FDAPPMA50 and FDAPPMA35). This dataset provides the locations of these study sectors for IAS fishing sessions in the Sélune watershed by fishing session.

The opening of the dams should impact the functioning of Atlantic salmon populations migrating up the Sélune River and its tributaries. Restoring the river's ecological continuity will alter population flows by allowing amphihaline sea trout to migrate further upstream and native trout to move downstream and upstream of the dams. The trout population is monitored at a network of stations covering the entire Sélune basin using an abundance index, which is carried out every two years before 2021 and every year since then. Field campaigns comply with the fishing protocol developed by INRAE and OFB. The aim of this method is to estimate the abundance of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at a station (or sector). This protocol targets juveniles of the year (aged 0+) whose abundance reflects the renewal of generations within the population (or recruitment) and survival after the embryonic development phases under gravel and the first months of life in the open environment. Field campaigns are carried out by INRAE and the Manche and Ille-et-Vilaine Federations for Fishing and the Protection of the Aquatic Environment (FDAAPPMA50 and FDAAPPMA35). This dataset provides abundance data for Atlantic salmon (0+, 1+, 2+ and cumulative) as well as the salmon abundance index (PAS) by station and fishing session.

The opening of the dams should impact the functioning of Atlantic salmon populations migrating up the Sélune River and its tributaries. Restoring the river's ecological continuity will alter population flows by allowing amphihaline sea trout to migrate further upstream and native trout to move downstream and upstream of the dams. The trout population is monitored at a network of stations covering the entire Sélune basin using an abundance index, which is carried out every two years before 2021 and every year since then. Field campaigns comply with the fishing protocol developed by INRAE and OFB. The aim of this method is to estimate the abundance of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at a station (or sector). This protocol targets juveniles of the year (aged 0+) whose abundance reflects the renewal of generations within the population (or recruitment) and survival after the embryonic development phases under gravel and the first months of life in the open environment. Field campaigns are carried out by INRAE and the Manche d'Ille-et-Vilaine Federation for Fishing and the Protection of the Aquatic Environment (FDAPPMA50 and FDAAPPMA35). This dataset provides individual biometric data on Atlantic salmon caught during PAS fishing sessions in the Sélune watershed, by station and by fishing session.

The spawning grounds of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are located within the perimeter of the Sélune Observatory. As this species is migratory, its colonisation of the Sélune river and its tributaries will probably be influenced by the removal of the Sélune dams. The spawning grounds are characterised by a depression accompanied by a sediment ejection dome immediately downstream. The stones returned to the dome are lighter, making the nests easily visible and identifiable for up to several weeks after spawning. This data is available for the years 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Sélune Observatory's activity reports (see attached links) give details of the prospecting conditions.

Benthic macro-invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms) form an important link in the food chain. 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, the aquatic biocenoses (including benthic macroinvertebrates, biofilms, macrophytes, etc.) are monitored. The parameters monitored are the taxonomic composition of the communities at 5 stations in the main river, located upstream, downstream and in the new lotic habitats. The sampling frequency involves two annual sampling campaigns (spring and autumn). The protocols implemented are the installation of 4 artificial substrates (SUBART) per station and a survey after 1 month of immersion as well as 12 Surber samples per station, in accordance with standard NF T 90-333 (2016), allowing the calculation of the I2M2 in accordance with standard NF T 90-388 (2020) and Mondy et al. 2012, 2012. This layer shows the location of the study sectors used to monitor benthic macroinvertebrates and the campaigns carried out. This monitoring was finalised with the latest field acquisitions in 2025.

As part of the Biomonitoring project and 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. 2 sampling campaigns (spring and autumn) for benthic macroinvertebrates (bmi) have been carried out since September 2014. During each campaign, 2 sampling protocols are implemented: - in accordance with standard NF T90-333, which enables the calculation of the IBG-DCE and I2M2 (‘SURBER’) - via artificial substrates immersed for 1 month (‘SUBART’), in order to focus on measuring the ‘effect of dams’. The protocol is described in: Piscart C., Moreteau, J.C., Beisel J.N. (2006). Monitoring changes in freshwater macroinvertebrate communities along a salinity gradient using artificial substrates. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 116: 529-542. This layer details the benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and their abundance obtained after analysis (according to standard NF T90-388). These data are distributed by campaign and by sector. Taxa presenting all the morphological criteria clearly visible and characteristic allowing the exactitude of their determination and an irreproachable state of conservation are integrated into the reference collection of the Sélune Observatory. This collection can be consulted on request (see contact point). Taxon determination is based on version v17 of the TAXREF reference. The dataset is currently under embargo.

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.

The opening of the dams will have a significant impact on trout populations in the Sélune. Restoring the river's ecological continuity will alter population flows by allowing amphihaline sea trout to migrate further upstream and native trout to move downstream and upstream of the dams. The trout population is monitored at a network of stations covering the entire Sélune basin using an abundance index, which is carried out every two years. The field campaigns comply with the Vigitruite® fishing protocol, developed by INRA and intended for use throughout France. This abundance index, relative to the area of favorable habitats in the watercourse, makes it possible to assess the quantity of young trout present in the river, resulting from natural reproduction in previous years. This table provides individual data on trout caught according to the year of study.

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.