The Murray-Darling Basin Authority said the decision had been taken after extensive consultation with the local community, landholders and business owners.
The MDBA, in partnership with Goulburn-Murray Water, manage the lowering of the lake, which provides the best opportunity to control the weed (Egeria densa), as well as carry out maintenance work.
“Lowering the water level in the lake to control this invasive waterweed is a necessary operation that occurs every three to five years,” MDBA executive director Andrew Kremor said.
“Lake Mulwala is a popular waterskiing and boating spot and the waterweed can make it difficult to launch boats, fish, swim or water ski without getting tangled in the weed.”
The lake was last lowered in 2018 and since then the weed had become dense.
“In order to kill the waterweed, we need to expose it to the air and winter frosts, which we will do by lowering the lake by 5m below operating level and holding that level for about a month,” Dr Kremor said.
“We expect to bring the lake back to its regular operating levels by early August.”
The MDBA has consulted with the local angling and waterski clubs, irrigators, local councils, the Yorta Yorta Traditional Owners, tourism and hospitality operators, NSW and Victorian government agencies and others to confirm the best date.
G-MW storage services general manager Martina Cusack said lowering the water level would expose large areas of the lake bed, allowing for a range of works to be done.
“We plan to use this opportunity to carry out maintenance under and around the bridge including pylon inspection, as well as lake retaining-wall works and erosion repairs,” she said.
“It also offers an excellent opportunity for residents around the lake to carry out inspections and maintenance on their own infrastructure, such as jetties, boat ramps, retaining walls and pipe intakes.”
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