Protesters Gather At French Ski Resort To Oppose Snowmaking Reservoir Project
LES ANGLES, France — Around 250 environmental activists gathered in the gondola parking lot at the Les Angles Ski Resort on Sunday, June 28, 2026, to protest the construction of a new hillside water reservoir at the Roc d’Aude.
The demonstration, organized by a coalition of roughly 20 environmental and animal defense associations, highlights an ongoing conflict between local economic preservation and ecological conservation in the French Pyrenees.
Work has already started on the project. Once completed, the new infrastructure will be fed by a neighboring river and is designed to secure the water supply for the ski resort snowmaking operations. The reservoir will join two existing water retaining basins at the resort, expanding the total storage capacity by just under three times the size of the current facilities.
Opponents argue that the project is just a temporary solution to a much greater issue tied to climate change and does not address the underlying problem:
“We see that saving skiing implies a new consumption of space. We are caught in a ‘technolutionist’ headlong rush, using technical means to just keep doing the exact same thing. We are looking at an irremediable devastation of the landscapes.” –David Berruet
Protesters also argued the new reservoir will degrade the local environment by disrupts the soil, vegetation, and local wildlife. Resort management and municipal officials have defended the infrastructure as a vital investment for the long-term viability of the skiing industry in Les Angles which serves as a major driver for local employment and economic stability.
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