Starting on January 18 and ending in early March, the out-flow is expected to take Lake Boga from 87 per cent to 55 per cent capacity.
The lake — which contains no environmental water and is managed as a storage site — holds water from the Murray River in low-demand times and releases water back during times of high demand.
Goulburn-Murray Water river operations manager Andrew Shields said Lake Boga was one of Victoria’s many mid-Murray storage lakes found around Swan Hill.
“Lake Boga’s operational purpose is to harvest and release water for distribution to Murray River customers,” Mr Shields said.
“Water is now required from Lake Boga to meet demands downstream of the Little Murray Weir.”
Recreational users are reminded to be cautious of hazards in the lake as the water level falls. These include submerged or exposed rocks, sandbars, trees, shallow water and debris.
Lake Boga diverters may need to extend suction lines.
G-MW plans to refill the lake from Murray River flows later in the year, depending on conditions during winter and spring.
The unseasonal mass movement of water is not expected to have a noticeable environmental impact, as neighbouring lakes and wetlands including Kangaroo Lake and the Kerang Lakes will retain environmental water and protections.
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