FRUSTRATED river users met on Tuesday night to come up with solutions to fix the diminishing water levels in the Nepean River.
Works at the Nepean Weir were completed late last year, when a new fishway was installed.
But the levels in the weir pool the section above the weir are dropping and users say a section of the weir has been been cut and lowered, letting more water escape.
Steve Defina, who runs eco tours and fishing charters on the river, estimated the level had dropped by 150 millimetres: ``The wall is lower by 33 centimetres''. ``Somebody has made a mistake here, the level was supposed to stay the same.''
Both rocks and weeds were now closer to the surface, he said, with people now swimming in the boat zone because the other end was full of weeds.
The problem, he said, could be fixed today with some sand bags to make the opening smaller.``In fact, I'm half tempted to get some sand bags and do it myself.''
John Wakeling, captain of the Nepean Belle, said ``we've got a real problem here''.
The Penrith Platypus Cruiser is out of the water for annual inspection
``We will be flat out getting it back on the water,'' he said.
He also feared the Nepean Belle would have trouble getting through the narrows.
``We may not be able to get through here with a full load on.''
``It's an engineering blunder.''
More than 20 river users attended the meeting at the Nepean Rowing Club, also attended by a representative of the Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, when it was suggested that a device be installed to change the height of the lowered section and, until it was fixed, double the flow.
The Office's representative agreed to pass on their questions and suggestions.nteMeanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean has said ntsDin a statement there had been no change to the height.
``While the height of the weir has not been altered, other natural conditions can influence river height such as hot, dry weather, which results in low inflows from the catchments feeding the river,'' she said.
``Licensed water extraction is also greatest during periods of hot weather, particularly those undertaken by the large water users.
``It should also be noted that river heights at current levels are not unprecedented with similar recordings in late 2006 well before any works started on the weir.''
But Mr Defina said: ``While they deny it, it means they won't fix it.''
And while rain raises the level, Mr Defina said the ``speed at which it [the water] drops is quite amazing''.
Although it was decided the river users wanted that section of the weir plugged to return it to its original height, doubt was raised as to whether the problem was isolated to just that section of the weir.
``There's more to it than just this small section of weir,'' said one river user.
The question was also asked whether it was known how much water left the dam and how much reached them.
Another doubted the amount of water currently escaping from the weir would be more than what used to flow across the top of it.
Mr Wakeling said during the meeting the levels had caused real worry and turmoil.
``I'm just thinking about shutting the door and walking away. That's how serious it is.''
There are also safety concerns for rowers using the river.
A representative from the rowing club said
children training at 5am were now getting into their boats on an angle, in the dark.
``It's really, really dangerous,'' he said.
`The kids are in danger.''
Boats were also getting damaged because of the drop in water, he said.
A committee was also set up to meet in two weeks' time.
Penrith MP Karyn Paluzzano said the falls in water levels above the weir would be closely monitored by the Office.
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