The Australian info Growers in the south of Western Australia are looking at an increasingly bleak future as a key local water source runs nearly dry.
Water levels in the Glen Mervyn Dam, 200 kilometres south of Perth, have dropped by more than 80 per cent over the past year to sit at just 0.13 gigalitres.
It has forced a complete ban on waterskiing, fishing and other residential activities.
But most critically, it has left local growers facing water-deficient seasons in the near future.
Temporary pausePreston Valley Irrigation Co-operative, which purchases water sourced from the dam and on-sells to growers, told its members last month supplies would be run at the lowest possible level.
A letter was sent to irrigators informing them the dam had been run to the lowest possible level.(ABC News: Kate Forrester)
Co-op chairman James Fearnley said the dam was only 54 per cent full at the start of the summer season.
“We had a bit of an idea that we wouldn’t get through, the excessive hot weather meant people were irrigating more than normal,” Mr Fearnley said.
He said growers were increasingly concerned over where additional water could be sourced from.
“We are currently purchasing water from a private farm, meaning there’s an increase in costs but not on this year’s water price,” Mr Fearnley said.
Looking aheadSam Licciardello, one of many growers impacted by the water shortage, grows apples, pears and stone fruit on his Donnybrook orchard.
“We did expect an issue this year. Being such a long, dry and windy summer we all knew it could be a possibility,” Mr Licciardello said.
“The co-op has put a back-up in place to keep
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