Prachuap Khiri Khan is working to restore the province's once-famous natural lotus swamp, Bueng Bua Sam Roi Yot, after the plants ceased flowering.
Chaichana Sutthivorachai, district chief of Sam Roi Yot, yesterday called a meeting with community leaders and 150 shrimp farmers to discuss solutions.
In the past, lotus plants in the 500-rai swamp blossomed all year round, making it a popular tourist attraction, Mr Chaichana said, but the lotus plants haven't bloomed fully in 10 years, resulting in a sharp drop in tourists.
Officials found the amount of salt in district water was above normal, Mr Chaichana said.
He said he earlier asked local shrimp farmers to reduce the salinity of their farm pools before releasing their water into local sources to determine whether salt was affecting plant growth.