The Sau Reservoir has become symbollic of Catalonia’s plight after the 11th century church of Sant Romà de Sau emerged as the water levels plummeted. Local resident Agustín Torrent, ...

The biggest increase has been seen at the Sau reservoir. Reservoirs reach rare milestone for first time in years — but the sudden change is raising new questions first appeared on The Cool Down.

The Sau reservoir during extreme drought in Vilanova de Sau, Spain, April 7, 2023. As the drought in Catalonia dries up water reserves, the government has begun to impose water restrictions.

The Sau reservoir shrunk to less than 7% capacity on April 21, according to data from the Catalan Water Agency. A year ago, the reservoir was filled to 61% capacity.

The Sau reservoir’s water levels now stand at 9% of total capacity, according to Catalan Water Agency data, so officials have taken the decision to remove its fish to stop them from asphyxiating.

Drought-quenching rain is a welcome sight in Spain, and a nearly 1,000-year-old church resting on the bottom of the Sau Reservoir is almost completely underwater following wet weather.

Item 1 of 5 Tourists walk while fishermen collect fish from the Sau reservoir next to a church of the village of San Roman de Sau after its re-emerging as Sau reservoir has lowest level since 1990 ...

People look into a ruined house of Sant Roma de Sau. AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Spain as a whole has warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2 Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, the Associated Press reports.

The Sau reservoir, about 55 miles northeast of Barcelona, provided water to nearby communities for decades, BBC reported. But now the reservoir is providing something else: a warning sign.

Spain’s temperatures have risen 1.3C since the 1960s when the Sau reservoir was built, and this average rise is estimated to be even higher at 1.6C during the summer months.

The Sau reservoir shrunk to less than 7% capacity on April 21, according to data from the Catalan Water Agency. A year ago, the reservoir was filled to 61% capacity.