A very dry season to date means the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has issued a low lake level notification as early as December.
Due to the low rainfall levels being experienced throughout the Bay of Plenty, lakes in the Rotorua region are at their lowest for several seasons and are nearing minimum operating conditions.
As a result the Okere Gates will be operating on their minimum settings in an effort to hold Rotoiti lake levels.
The Ohau Channel stop logs, which have been in place since November 2013, are also aiding in the effort to keep lake levels within the desired zone.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Principal Engineering Surveyor, Graeme O'Rourke, said it was early to be in that position.