A very dry season to date has led Bay of Plenty Regional Council to issue a low lake level notification at the start of this month.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council principal engineering surveyor Graeme O'Rourke said it was early to be in this position.
"The last low lake levels notification was earlier this year, in January, and that is usually when we'd see low levels during a dry summer. But this year we are already seeing levels drop to a very low level following a dry winter and spring.
"What's more, we expect that it will be a long dry summer as we feel the impact of El Nino. These levels may be the new normal well into the new year," Mr O'Rourke said.
Other lakes and rivers in the region are also feeling the impact of the dry weather.