Lake Benmore is at its lowest level for 13 years.
The low level of the lake was evident during the weekend, when boat owners needed to take care at launch ramps and stretches of the shore were left bare, including more of the Ahuriri, Tekapo and Ohau deltas.
At the end of last month, the lake was averaging around 361 metres above sea level. Yesterday it was 359.494, about a metre below the minimum operating range of 360.5.
The plan is to hold that level for about 24 hours from noon today, then start trending upwards at about 15cm a day, which should bring the lake back to its normal level by Easter.
It will still be low for Otago Anniversary weekend this weekend.
While the lake is low, users will conduct ramp repairs, local landowners will remove some fencing and Land Information New Zealand will spray the exposed aquatic plant lagarosiphon that is growing in the lake.
The lower lake does not breach any of Meridian's consent conditions, but will be noticeable to those who know the area as the level will be lower than the usual operating range. The activity will not affect Meridian's generation capacity.
People visiting and using the lake during this time should be aware the low water level may mean fishing is possible only by boat and access in some areas of the lake may be a little more difficult for this short period.
Meridian last lowered the lake for similar activities in February, 1999.
