The water level in Doi Tao Lake, located upstream of the Bhumibol Dam in Chiang Mai’s Doi Tao district, has dropped significantly, leaving local fishermen and floating restaurant operators high and dry and threatening a major blow to the area's tourism industry.
The receding waters in Tha Deua sub-district have left numerous floating restaurants aground. The vast dried-up lake bed has turned into an expansive field of weeds and grass, where local villagers now graze their cattle instead of navigating watercraft.
“Water levels in the lake have been steadily declining since June. Compared to the same period last year, the water volume is dramatically lower, dealing a heavy blow to local businesses as tourist arrivals have ground to a halt,” said Yont Kaewkan, a local floating restaurant owner.
Meanwhile, Supaporn Kantiya and In Kaewfoo reported that catching large fish has become nearly impossible, forcing them to travel 5 to 10 kilometers further out into remaining water pockets, an endeavor that has rendered their daily fishing trips financially unviable due to rising fuel costs.
Theerapong Duangchan, mayor of the Tha Deua Sub-district Administrative Organisation, stated that, following warnings of an impending El Niño phenomenon that could trigger intense drought well into next year, local authorities have begun implementing contingency plans.
Measures include advising farmers to avoid water-intensive crops and carefully managing water allocation for agriculture, livestock and daily consumption.
Doi Tao Lake serves as a critical upstream reservoir for the Bhumibol Dam and remains one of Chiang Mai’s key tourism landmarks.
The drying lake triggers broader concerns for regional water reserves, as reduced inflows directly reflect falling storage levels behind the dam.
According to the latest figures, the reservoir behind Bhumibol Dam currently holds approximately 7.547 billion cubic metres of water, which is only 56% of its capacity.
The reservoir still has room for more than 5,900 million additional cubic metres of water, with current discharge and allocation strategies following guidelines set by the Office of National Water Resources.
