The water level in Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, has fallen sharply to 7.95 meters, the lowest level in six decades, according to a Xinhua report.

An official from the Duchang Hydrometric Station said that the falling water level has greatly affected the water supply of local residents who live near the lake, as well shipping and migratory birds that fly to the area for the winter.

Last week Jiangxi officials said that the surface area of Poyang Lake had shrunk to less than 200 sq km.

The recent drop in water level is attributed to three factors: the low water level of the Yangtze River near the Jiujiang section, reduced water discharge to the lake from tributaries of Jiangxi’s five rivers and a prolonged drought in the lake area.