An extremely dry few months in the Bay of Plenty area has seen lakes in the Rotorua region at their lowest level for several seasons.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council says they're nearing minimal levels.

It is now operating the Okere Gates on minimum settings an an effort to hold Rotoiti Lake levels within the desired zone.

That's not something it usually does until mid to late summer.

Principal Engineering Surveyor, Graeme O’Rourke, says, while the current rain is very welcome, it will take a considerable amount more over a reasonable period of time to get the lake levels back to normal.