Hydro-climatic data (temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, etc.) and hydrological data (water level, piezometric levels, observation of dry periods, etc.) are essential for understanding climate change and its impact on water resources and aquatic environments. One of the main aims of the LIFE Eau&Climat project is to enable local players to identify relevant and useful data to take into account the impacts of climate change in territorial water management, and to facilitate access to this data. Among the work carried out to this end, a guide to observatories in connection with SAGEs has just been published.v

Hydro-climatic and hydrological data facilitate the monitoring of climate change, contribute to the calculation of projections, and serve as a basis for planning the adaptation of water resource management. Water observatories, including those of the SAGEs, are an ideal place to gather and disseminate these data at the scale of the territories concerned.

As part of the LIFE Eau&Climat project, the Office International de l'Eau has carried out a study on SAGE observatories. The report «Observatoires "SAGE et climat", retours d'expérience et recommandations» is now available online. It is aimed at SAGE structures and, more broadly, at all those involved in water management, with the following objectives:

• Take stock of SAGE observatories ;
• Provide an overview of other types of climate-related observatories ;
• Present feedback on the implementation and management of SAGE observatories ;
• Draw up recommendations for the creation and management of SAGE observatories ;
• Propose examples of relevant data and indicators on the theme of "water and climate».

In particular, it contains 8 feedback reports on observatories managed by LIFE Eau&Climat project partners. And it suggests a number of recommendations based on the observatories studied, concerning the main points to be taken into account :

• Definition of objectives and targets ;
• Selecting, importing, storing and updating data ;
• Steering, human and financial resources required to manage the observatory ;
• Structuring, content enhancement and website animation.

=> Consult the report « Observatoires "SAGE et climat", retours d’expérience et recommandations »