Prolonged hot weather severely lowers Lake Beris, disrupting tourism and farming, while Taiping Lake Gardens also sees a drop in water levels.
SIK: Prolonged hot weather has drastically lowered the water level at Lake Beris, disrupting daily life and posing significant challenges for local tourism operators.
Resort operator Abdul Rashid Abdullah said the current hot spell is among the worst he has experienced in over 25 years of running a business in the area.
“If the hot weather continues, activities here, especially those on the water, like kayaking, will definitely be affected,” he said.
He explained that the receding water since January has left a floating café stranded on dry ground.
Areas that were once underwater are now completely exposed, revealing previously submerged tree stumps and altering the landscape entirely.
Resident Muhammad Helmi Hashim, who farms durian and cash crops, said the situation is severely affecting irrigation-dependent activities.
“When the water level drops, we have to move the pump every day to make sure the plants get enough water,” he said.
He added that the extended dry spell, combined with water being released from the dam, is a primary reason for the lake’s receding water.
Muhammad Helmi said they may have to rely on water delivered by tanker lorries if the lake dries up completely.
Meanwhile, in Taiping, the water level at Taiping Lake Gardens has also dropped but remains under control.
Taiping Municipal Council president Mohamed Akmal Dahalan said the situation is not as severe as in previous years.
“When the water recedes, the lake becomes slightly less attractive as the lakebed is exposed,” he said.
He expressed hope the hot weather does not persist, noting that recent heavy rain in some areas provided some relief.
In 2024, several parts of Taiping Lake Gardens dried up due to similar hot weather and low rainfall conditions.