NAOMI Engelander is one resident of Lake Eppalock who is enraged by the lack of balance between farming and recreation.
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The property on Twin Rivers Road has been in Naomi Engelander's family for more than 35 years.
Her sentiment is echoed by many holidaymakers, farmers and other residents.
She said it was far from a drought because the water was being pumped out.
"We do need to keep the farmers alive but it is about having a balance," she said.
"It would be really nice to have it recognised as recreational.
"Once (Goulburn-Murray Water) have sold all the water they will have no more water.
"If they could just create a balance between both customers, then they would have a constant source of revenue."
Mrs Engelander said she understood the need to allow water down the Campaspe River as it cared for the farmers.
"I have seen the water rise and fall down to absolutely nothing over the years," she said.
Thousands of supporters are petitioning that Lake Eppalock be saved through a Facebook group.
The Save Lake Eppalock group has more than 7000 people supporting its efforts to raise awareness of the low water level at the popular recreational facility.
The group hopes to get legislation changed so the lake volume can stay at a consistent level.
Regular holiday maker Shell Parker started the group in October last year when the lake was at 73.5 per cent.
Since then the Facebook group numbers have risen as the water subsided to cater for farms downstream.
Lake caretaker Goulburn-Murray Water delivers water to customers off the Campaspe River.
The lake now rests at about 55 per cent and is expected to plummet to 43 per cent by Easter.
"The water falls out of the sky for nothing, what gives them the right to sell it off?" Ms Parker said.
At times throughout 2014 the lake was being emptied at a rate of 3 per cent a week, Derrinal resident Terry Tolra said.
He said the lake went down 20 per cent within two months just before Christmas. He said many people had purchased houses on the premise that the water would stay at a reasonable percentage.
"(The situation) is making me sick, to be honest," Mr Tolra said.
"I have had to extend my pipe out to get the water I need from the lake.
"We have to pay for our water rights but we aren't getting any water. We rely on the lake."
Mr Tolra said there was no doubt holiday makers were rapidly leaving the area.
He said he believed they had all returned home early or decided to holiday in another part of the state.
"It's disheartening," Mr Tolra said.
"We aren't being greedy by wanting more water.
"We want them to plug it at 80 per cent. We are not in a drought."
Danny McGrath said he had owned a property on Lakeside Boulevard for 25 years and hoped to retire to the property in the coming years.
"Unfortunately the state of the lake will dictate whether or not we do retire here," he said.
Darren McDonell has run Maccas property services out of Kimbolton.
He started the business hoping to build it based on people buying new houses in the area. He said all he hoped for was clarification from GMW.
"Ideally, the lake needs to stay at 50 or 60 per cent full," he said.
"It is going to kill the economy out here otherwise."
He said the caravan parks and water activity clubs would also suffer from a lower water level.
"It's just a disgrace when other reservoirs are 80 per cent full," Mr McDonnell said.
"I just don't understand why they have pulled so much water out of this one. There is not that much to irrigate."
Naomi's husband John Engelander bought a Twin Rivers Road property October 2014.
The couple hoped to enjoy the area with their young family over the summer periods.
He said he felt misled by GMW as the water level was promised to remain at a certain level after the drought.
"If they were one human not a company you would call them a liar," he said.
"It is misleading and deceptive conduct."
A Goulburn-Murray water spokesman said the water from the lake was being delivered to the customers who own the water: irrigators, urban water corporations and Commonwealth and Victorian Environmental Water Holders.
"GMW does not own the water in Eppalock. It manages the water on behalf of the entitlements holders," he said.
"The amount of water delivered to customers this year is similar to previous year.
"Unfortunately, when there is no inflow to offset what is being released, the reservoir level will fall.
"The level is determined by the volume flowing into the reservoir from the upstream catchment. GMW cannot control how much water flows into the reservoir from the upstream catchment."
The spokesman said they have never made any sort of guarantee regarding a consistent water level despite holiday makers and residents claiming a 80 per cent consistency.
"The rumours about water level guarantees have been taken out of context from an article that was actually in response to community concerns about flooding during 2011 when GMW was being asked to lower the reservoir," the spokesman said.
"GMW cannot release water unless it is to meet delivery requirements to entitlement holders."
It's just a disgrace when other reservoirs are 80 per cent full. I just don't understand why they have pulled so much water out of this one.
- Darren McDonell