In 1955, the law defined the EDF Durance-Verdon project had three objectives:
production of electricity;
irrigation and the supply of water to towns;
minimisation of the flooding.

Over 40 years, this project required the construction of 23 dams and water extraction points starting upstream of Claux sur Argentiere down to Mallemort and the supply of 33 hydroelectric power stations and several control stations.

This programme was an almost complete success:
the Durance-Verdon project produces 6 to 7 billion kWh per annum (10% of the French hydroelectric production);
the reservoirs provide drinking water to the whole area, and irrigate all of Provence (a third of all French irrigation);
the lakes are a tourist attraction (Serre-Ponçon attracts 10% of the tourists visiting Hautes-Alpes);
although routine floods are prevented, the project cannot have any effect on major floods, as shown by the flood of 1994, which reached 3,000 cubic metres per second (110,000 cu ft/s) in Cadarache.
Indeed, the lake at Serre-Ponçon only controls the upper reaches of the Durance, and does not control the lower tributaries, whose role is important in the creation of the major floods.
All the other dams are only to abstract water.
Only the flow of the Verdon is controlled by a dam, Lac de Sainte-Croix, and only if there is enough storage capacity at the time of the flood.
In 1955, the law defined the EDF Durance-Verdon project had three objectives:
production of electricity;
irrigation and the supply of water to towns;
minimisation of the flooding.
Over 40 years, this project required the construction of 23 dams and water extraction points starting upstream of Claux sur Argentiere down to Mallemort and the supply of 33 hydroelectric power stations and several control stations.
This programme was an almost complete success:
the Durance-Verdon project produces 6 to 7 billion kWh per annum (10% of the French hydroelectric production);
the reservoirs provide drinking water to the whole area, and irrigate all of Provence (a third of all French irrigation);
the lakes are a tourist attraction (Serre-Ponçon attracts 10% of the tourists visiting Hautes-Alpes);
although routine floods are prevented, the project cannot have any effect on major floods, as shown by the flood of 1994, which reached 3,000 cubic metres per second (110,000 cu ft/s) in Cadarache. Indeed, the lake at Serre-Ponçon only controls the upper reaches of the Durance, and does not control the lower tributaries, whose role is important in the creation of the major floods. All the other dams are only to abstract water. Only the flow of the Verdon is controlled by a dam, Lac de Sainte-Croix, and only if there is enough storage capacity at the time of the flood.
Durance