BY MICHAEL CROOKS

BRIAN Davis has been fishing at Arthurs Lake for more than 40 years and, in his opinion, the current level of the water is as low as he has ever seen it.

“I just came back from a week there and the low level of the water was exceptionally noticeable,” Mr Davis said.

The prime trout fishing venue risks being split into two separate bodies of water if it doesn’t receive sufficient rainfall soon.

Recently taken satellite pictures of the area show parts of the lake previously underwater are now dry land.

One strip of this terra firma will completely bisect the lake if the water level drops only one more metre.

This would return Arthurs Lake to its status from the 1960s as two separate bodies of water known as Blue Lake and Sand Lake.

Mr Davis, from Burnie, said the water level hadn’t affected the fishing, which, by all accounts, had been of a high standard this season.

While acknowledging the weather had played a part in Arthurs Lake’s recession, Mr Davis said the body of water was undoubtedly under plenty of stress.

“I think rainfall is the bottom line, although the demand for hydro is also a factor,” he said.

“There is a lot of strain on Arthurs Lake to supplement the supply of Great Lake and also for the water used in farming.

“It’s a shame that it’s in its current situation.”

Statistics show Arthurs Lake is at its lowest recorded level in nearly 20 years.

Hydro Tasmania has confirmed the worrying situation, saying it has been caused by several factors.

Evaporation and a lack of rainfall are largely to blame, although other uses are also contributing.

Water is pumped out of Arthurs Lake to supply Lake River irrigation and is transferred to Great Lake to support power generation at Poatina.

A spokesperson for Hydro Tasmania said it was important to recognise the many challenges it faced striving to find the right balance with all users during the prolonged drought.

Arthurs Lake’s low levels have also been making boating access to the water particularly tough, with many ramps having to be shut.

The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS), Hydro Tasmania and Marine and Safety have recently invested $10,000 to create a low-level launching area for boats at Pumphouse Bay, along with establishing other low-level access points around the lake.

Although long-term weather forecasts aren’t showing any signs of significant rain, everyone concerned about the lake would be encouraged that its level has risen by 15cm in the last six weeks.

Source: The Advocate