In just over a month the Murray River at Mildura has gone from one of the highest floods on record to flowing well below its banks.
House boats and paddle steamers that were floating level with some buildings on the riverfront are now beached, while dead fish litter once-flooded paths.
Businesses that operate on the water had been hoping to return over the past weeks, but the rapid drop in the river level has delayed their plans.
Mildura Paddle Steamers manager Lyn McKenzie said the business had only been able to get its boats back out on the water for three days since November.
"It is the reverse of what we've had for the last three months," she said.
"The river has gone below where we can pull into the Mildura Wharf, and getting on board becomes too steep.
"We haven't been able to give dates and information correctly, because it's always been a bit of unknown how high it was going to go and now how low it's going to go."
Businesses miss out on peak season
Water NSW has not banned any vessels from entering the Murray River but has restricted activities.
A 4-knot speed limit remains in place and vessels cannot tow people or create excessive wash.
Sunraysia Marine owner Brett Woods said Mildura was suffering after losing several key income months due to the natural disaster.
"I think the locals probably didn't appreciate the value of tourism," he said.
"At the end of the day, the tourist dollar rolls through a lot of places in this town and it's not here."
Emergency water restrictions for NSW
On the other side of the river, Wentworth Shire Council has declared emergency water restrictions for residents in Gol Gol and Buronga.
Outdoor water use is not permitted, which includes operating sprinklers and topping up swimming pools.
General manager Ken Ross said the extremely low level of the Murray River was affecting the council's ability to supply water to the towns.
"The main priority will be ensuring customers continue to have access to safe drinking water," he said.
A return to normal conditions
Despite the level dropping by more than 30 centimetres each day, water experts say this is normal following Murray River floods.
Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Pearl Elgindy said the river was now back at a more normal level.
"We're not expecting to see any significant fluctuations and certainly not a return to flood thresholds because we haven't seen any significant rises in the Victorian tributaries over January," she said.
"It means a return to more normal conditions, so hopefully more summer activities."
Returning weir to increase levels
The main reason for the Murray's seemingly lower levels is because the Mildura Weir is still sitting on Lock Island after it was removed in September.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority executive director, river management Andrew Reynolds said the river had reached a level where the weir could be safely reinstated
"If all the equipment is in good working order, we expect to start putting the weir's trestles back in place on Thursday," he said
"The procedure will take a few days to complete, and once the weir is back in the river the weir pool will begin to refill."
