Dolore

The Dolore is a French river in the Auvergne region. It originates in the monts du Livradois and joins the Dore, left bank; hence it is a sub-affluent of the Loire. It is 37.1 km long.

Geography
The Dolore originates at Fournols, in the Livradois range. It flows southward until Saint-Bonnet-le-Chastel. It then turns east, before joining the Dore, left bank, downstream of Arlanc.

The entire river valley is part of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park.

Communes
Heading downstream, the river fares through :
 * Fournols, Chambon-sur-Dolore, Saint-Bonnet-le-Chastel, Novacelles, Saint-Sauveur-la-Sagne, Mayres, Arlanc.

Affluents

 * Ruisseau des Moches
 * Ruisseau du Forestier
 * Ruisseau de la Farge (sometimes charted 'la Palle')
 * Ruisseau de la Queue
 * Ruisseau des Palles
 * Ruisseau des Mons
 * Ruisseau de la Combe
 * Ruisseau de Beligeon

Hydrology
Levels were recorded from 1965 to 2008 at Mayres, with a discharge of 1.18 m3/s, 10 km from its confluence with la Dore.

The river has well-marked seasonal debital variations. High waters are in winter and spring especially, with average monthly scores of 1.53 to 1.71 m3/s, from December to May (peak in April). The rate drops considerably in June to 0.992 m3/s, and the rate remains low through September, when it declines to 0.538 m3/s. These monthly scores can also however vary yearly or over short periods.

Àt low water, the rate can drop to 0.033 m3/s, equivalent to 33 L/s, after a five-year dry period.

Given the narrowness of the basin, floods can be quite important, which can reach maximal debits of 14, 21, 26, 31 and 36 m3/s for periods of 2, 5, 10, 20 or 50 years respectively. The MID recorded at Mayres on August 1, 1980, was of 52.5 m3/s and rose to a daily total of 22.8 m3/s on March 18, 1988.

The basin has a yearly precipitation of 531 mm, which is above the national average of 320 mm and even higher compared to the Loire at about 245 mm. The average debit hence reached 16.8 L/s/km².

Ecology
Lush in trout, a fair part of the river is included in the Natura 2000 programme, a small colony of Freshwater pearl mussel still present. Though it suffers little from industrial, domestic or agricultural pollution, the resinous reforestation of its banks has led to acidification of its waters and spawn clogging.