The Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne, crosses the Langres plateau watershed between the Marne to the northwest and the Saône to the southeast.

Much of the route on the Saône side is along the Vingeanne valley.

A barge travelling from the Saône up to the Langres plateau travels 62 kilometres (39 mi) and passes 43 locks with a total rise of 155 metres (509 ft).

The canal crosses the watershed through the Balesmes tunnel at an elevation of 340 metres (1,120 ft).

From there it travels 152 kilometres (94 mi) down to the navigable part of the Marne, and passes 71 locks with a total drop of 237 metres (778 ft).

A dependable supply of water is needed to replace the 800 cubic metres (28,000 cu ft) of water lost when a lock is operated and losses from leaking lock gates and other causes.

The Langres plateau has 886 millimetres (34.9 in) of annual rainfall, and can supply sufficient water, but seasonal variations in the flow of the Marne and the Vingeanne make the water supply in summer unreliable.

Reservoirs are needed to ensure a reliable supply year round.

This was recognized by Roger de Fontenay in his 1781 plan for the canal, and again by Brière de Montidour, chief engineer of the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées, in 1835.

The canal designers planned four reservoirs, three on the Marne side and the 8,300,000 cubic metres (290,000,000 cu ft) Lac de Villegusien on the Vingeanne.
The Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne, crosses the Langres plateau watershed between the Marne to the northwest and the Saône to the southeast.
Much of the route on the Saône side is along the Vingeanne valley.
A barge travelling from the Saône up to the Langres plateau travels 62 kilometres (39 mi) and passes 43 locks with a total rise of 155 metres (509 ft).
The canal crosses the watershed through the Balesmes tunnel at an elevation of 340 metres (1,120 ft).
From there it travels 152 kilometres (94 mi) down to the navigable part of the Marne, and passes 71 locks with a total drop of 237 metres (778 ft).
A dependable supply of water is needed to replace the 800 cubic metres (28,000 cu ft) of water lost when a lock is operated and losses from leaking lock gates and other causes.
The Langres plateau has 886 millimetres (34.9 in) of annual rainfall, and can supply sufficient water, but seasonal variations in the flow of the Marne and the Vingeanne make the water supply in summer unreliable.
Reservoirs are needed to ensure a reliable supply year round.
This was recognized by Roger de Fontenay in his 1781 plan for the canal, and again by Brière de Montidour, chief engineer of the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées, in 1835.
The canal designers planned four reservoirs, three on the Marne side and the 8,300,000 cubic metres (290,000,000 cu ft) Lac de Villegusien on the Vingeanne.
Vingeanne