Summer Overcrowding in the Mountains? A Study on Changing Recreational Use of High-Altitude Lakes

Conference Commercialization, Research, Scientific and Technical Culture
August 24, 2026Villar-d'Arène - Lautaret Garden
Lake Lauzon © Emma Herouard
Lake Lauzon © Emma Herouard
From 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. With Alice Nikolli, a researcher and lecturer at the Environments, Dynamics, and Mountain Territories Laboratory, and Clotilde Sagot, a project manager for “physical measurements” at the Écrins National Park.

In recent years, high-altitude lakes have become a major summer attraction: their managers have observed an increase in camping, swimming, and, at times, water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding. Widely covered in the media, these developments have raised questions and concerns about their potential impact on these fragile ecosystems, particularly within protected areas. However, little is yet known about the people who visit these lakes, their uses and perceptions of these places, and the impacts of the recreational activities taking place there. As part of the Lacs Sentinelles network, the PLOUF project has set out to study this phenomenon. The conference will review the findings from the summer 2025 field campaign, with a particular focus on the results of the survey of 1,200 people interviewed at 17 lakes in the French Alps.

General overview video of the PLOUF project

Watch the video


 

Alice Nikolli, Edytem       Clotilde Sagot, PNE

Alice Nikolli is a lecturer and researcher at the Environments, Dynamics, and Mountain Territories Laboratory (USMB/CNRS). Her work focuses on the appropriation and regulation of spaces valued for their scenic and recreational qualities, particularly natural areas and water-based spaces. Primarily grounded in social geography, her approach also draws on law and political science. She is particularly interested in access to nature and the intersection of public space and environmental inequalities.
Clotilde Sagot is the “physical measurements” project manager at the Écrins National Park. Trained in biology and ecology with a specialization in mountain ecosystems, her current role involves collecting physical and chemical data from the air, soil, and water to understand how ecosystems are affected by climate change. She is leading the PLOUF project for the Écrins National Park.
Lecture as part of the Mountain Research School, an interdisciplinary doctoral program that trains future researchers in mountain-related issues and the challenges of engaging with local stakeholders who deal with global changes (climate, resources, biodiversity, etc.) on a daily basis
Published on April 2, 2026
Updated on April 3, 2026