Horsham College year 10 student and Natimuk Lake resident Rhona Conboy, 15, started collecting signatures on Friday.

He estimated he had 210 signatures already.

Water for Natimuk Lake Committee secretary Mary Smith helped Rhona with the petition.

The Mail-Times reported on January 30 that Mrs Smith was writing letters to authorities, requesting an annual refill of environmental water for the lake.

The lobby group includes Natimuk Lake Foreshore Committee and Natimuk Ski Club.

Rhona said it was the first time he had started a petition.

"I got the idea because Natimuk Lake is drying up and we have nowhere else to go," he said.

"It is one of the better lakes in the Wimmera because it's big. There is always a spot to hide and there is space to go around every side of the lake.

"My friends who water ski think it's the best lake in the Wimmera too.

"I grew up with the lake when it was dry and when it filled up it was a great thing to bring everyone in the community together.

"A permanent allocation of water for the lake would provide major social and economic benefits."

Rhona said he wanted to collect lots of signatures as quickly possible before he sent the petition to Water Minister Peter Walsh.

He said he planned to leave the petition at the Mail-Times office for people to sign.

Lexi Conboy said her son was 'madly' collecting signatures.

"He went on his bicycle around Natimuk getting signatures," she said.

"People were really happy with the idea.

"Rhona grew up with a dry lake and would go looking for treasures or flying kites on the lake.

"So this is the first time he has seen it with water."

Ms Conboy said there were few attractions in the Wimmera for young people.

"We live right next to the lake," she said. ''The lake gets used so much, it would be a shame to let it dry up again.

"The water level is at the edge of the boat ramp.

"It's probably chest height."

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan met Mrs Smith on Wednesday last week.

He said discussions went well.

"We talked about the authority's role in managing water throughout the Wimmera catchment and also about GWMWater's role," Mr Brennan said.

"We also talked about the Water for Natimuk Lake group's proposal to have water potentially piped from the Wimmera River to Natimuk Lake.

"From an authority perspective, we said we had no objections.

"Historically, a number of landholders have pumped water out of the river.

"As long as there is a water entitlement, there is no reason why they could not have it from the river.

"The group has been doing preliminary work around that idea."

Mr Brennan said the planting of more trees could help prevent the exposed lake's evaporative losses, while water quality needed to be improved to prevent blue-green algae forcing closure of the lake.

"There are also broader considerations about quantifying the economic, social and recreational benefits of the lake to not only Natimuk but the wider Wimmera region," he said.

"Once the economic drivers are understood, a cost-benefit analysis can be done."