End of the Fifties, the wine crisis leads the authorities to consider a reconversion of the vineyard in orchard, which requires the creation of a water tank for the irrigation. The choice is made on the brook of Salagou, whose risings are often spectacular.
A basalt rock-fill dam with mask upstream out of bituminous is built and put out of water in 1969. The maximum height with the top of the foundation is of 62,3m. The length of the crowning of 357m, the width in peak of 7,42m, surface of the mask upstream 22.000m2. The volume total of the ripraps is of 800.000m3 for a total weight of 1.650.000 tons, width at the base 200m.
It will be necessary 3 years so that the lake of Salagou reaches its current level of 139m.
With the origin, it was envisaged a level of 150m, but in 1996, the General Council of Hérault definitively fixes the maximum coast of water of the lake at 139m.
Considering the importance of the sunning, in summer, the temperature of water reaches the 28°c.
For obvious reasons, the lake is interdict with the motor boats, but not with the sailing ships.
All the time, it is possible to fish fish of beautiful size, carnivores, carps, white. A "Aquapêche" center proposes training courses and animations (Phon +334.67.96.59.19).
With the amateurs of VTT, I recall that the perimeter of the lake of Salagou is of 28km.